PHUTI MOSOMANE
HEALTH Minister Dr Joe Phaahla says government will not introduce any new COVID-19 restrictions as yet despite the discovery of the new Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 in South Africa
“Vaccination remains the bedrock to protect against any variant or sub-variant of COVID-19 and not travel restrictions or any new restrictions at this stage,” Phaahla said.
He said the vaccination campaign will also be reinvigorated.
Qualification for boosters will also be adjusted to possibly include all adults and this will be finalised in the next few days.
“The XBB.1.5 variant, which has been detected in Stellenbosch, is also a sub-variant of the Omicron variant. Thus far there has been no indication of change in severity of illness,” Phaahla told the media on Tuesday.
The health minister said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised South Africa that it’s not necessary to impose travel bans on countries affected by the current upsurge of an Omicron sub-variant of the coronavirus.
Although the situation “has caused a lot of panic” and has led to stricter travel restrictions and measures in some countries, following consultation with the World Health Organisation, there will be no “need to impose travel measures and no need to impose restrictions in the country.”
Phaahla said there must, however, be increased COVID-19 testing throughout the country.
“Positive tests will be sent for genomic sequencing,” he said.
Scientists detected the new COVID19 variant XBB.1.5 in the country on the seventh of January.
The sample was collected from a patient in late December.
No further information like ”travel history” on the patient.
The country is also working to finalise policies to increase eligibility for additional COVID19 booster shots beyond high-risk individuals following the discovery of new Omicron sub-variant.
“The variant, which is dominant in the world today, remains the Omicron variant. This variant has had more than 100 sub-variants,” he added.
The health minister said although no major restrictions will be imposed, the Health Ministry will be taking precautionary measures including:
- Encouraging increased testing on people who experience the known COVID-19 symptoms
- Encouraging those experiencing symptoms to go to health facilities
- Advising healthcare practitioners to order antigen or PCR tests to be done on symptomatic persons
- Every positive COVID-19 test to be sent to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for genomic sequencing
- Increasing surveillance and waste water testing by the NICD, including that of aircrafts coming from countries with a high COVID-19 burden
- Reinvigorating the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign
The measures were presented to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, and have been approved.
The NICD will also increase waste water testing, including also from aircrafts from high burdened countries.
“Currently these will be China but possibly the US and any other country which emerges with rising infections,” he said.
INSIDE POLITICS
