South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the viral infection on Sunday, the presidency confirmed on Sunday, reported Africa News.
In a statement, the presidency announced that Ramaphosa started feeling unwell and a test confirmed COVID-19.
The statement added that Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated, is currently self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service. He has delegated all his responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.
The statement didn’t say whether he had been infected with the omicron coronavirus variant. The highly mutated Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa last month and sparked global panic over fears that it is more contagious than other variants.
Notably, the South African president visited four West African countries last week. He and all the other members of his delegation were tested for COVID-19 in each of the countries during the trip. Some in the delegation tested positive in Nigeria and returned directly to South Africa. Ramaphosa and his delegation tested negative throughout the rest of the trip. He returned from Senegal on Dec. 8.
Ramaphosa said his own infection serves as a caution to all people in South Africa to be vaccinated and remain vigilant against exposure, the statement said. It added that vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness and hospitalization.
The statement advised all the people who came in contact with the South African president recently to watch for symptoms or to have themselves tested.
Cases of coronavirus in Africa nearly doubled over a week as Omicron spread. South Africa is currently witnessing a rapid resurgence driven by the new variant. The country recorded more than 18,000 new confirmed cases Sunday night. More than 70% of the cases are estimated to be from omicron.
