South African hospitals have announced an SOS signal – they are urgently preparing for the influx of patients due to the rapid spread of the omicron strain. The government convenes a national council.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced today that the newly identified omicron coronavirus strain is causing a new wave of pandemic, and hospitals are currently gearing up for a rapid increase in patient admissions.
The number of infections in South Africa surpassed 16,000 last Friday. According to the president, the new strain appears to be gaining dominance in most of South Africa’s 9 provinces. Cyril Ramaphosa urged citizens to be more actively vaccinated against COVID-19:
“South Africa now has an ample supply of vaccines. Vaccinations are necessary to rebuild our economy, because the more people get vaccinated, the more fields of activity will open up. “
The head of state said that in the near future the government will convene a national pandemic council to study the situation in detail and decide on additional measures to ensure the safety of the population.