In the fight against the Omicron variant, South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has kept the lockdown at ‘adjusted level 1’, the lowest of a five-tier system of limitations, health officials announced on Thursday.
South Africa has recorded more than 20,000 new COVID-19 infections per day in the last few days, although scientists have found no evidence that the variant causes more severe sickness.
The health department said in a statement that “the Council has asked the department to closely monitor the escalating COVID-19 infections,” adding that it will also examine hospital admissions, mortality, and recovery rates.
The Omicron variation, which was leading to the fourth wave of infections, was substantially responsible for all of these variables, according to the report.
The decision was made after the Council deliberated on safety measures recommended by the department to prevent an outbreak of diseases during the holiday season, according to the statement.
