South Africa is prepared to conquer fourth wave

As COVID-19 infection cases continue to surge in South Africa driven by the Omicron variant, the country is confident to bend the curve using the weapon of vaccination and observation of health measures. 

"While it is always scary to hear we are facing another wave of COVID-19 cases, we must remain calm and turn our anxiety into action," Alan Winde, the premier of Western Cape Province. said in a statement on Monday.

"What is different in this wave is that we have the vaccine as a weapon in the fight. Let's use it."

Winde urged public members to vaccinate soonest possible, wear masks, ensure good ventilation with lots of fresh air and hold meetings outdoors. 

"Together with the golden rules of good hygiene, including staying home when you feel sick, we can slow the spread and save lives and jobs in the Western Cape," he said. 

Nomafrench Mbombo, the provincial minister of health, said Western Cape has adopted a six-point action plan as a response to the fourth wave of the pandemic. 

"Using data and lessons from previous waves, we will use a trigger response to bring online the resources needed to care for every person who needs treatment," he said.

While giving an update on President Cyril Ramaphosa's health after he tested positive for COVID-19, Mondli Gungubele, the minister in the presidency, on Sunday urged South Africans to get vaccinated to avoid severe illness and hospitalization. 

"President Ramaphosa says his own infection serves as a caution to all people in the country to be vaccinated and remain vigilant against exposure," Gungubele said.

He said Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated, is in good spirits and in self-isolation in Cape Town, where he is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service of the National Defence Force.

During a news briefing on Friday, Joe Phaahla, the minister of health, said the government will work hard with the provinces to ensure hospital preparedness, including flexible, agile bed surge planning, ensuring the availability of health care workers and resources such as oxygen. 

"We will also make decisions about lockdowns or increasing the levels of restrictions as more information becomes available and as the picture of COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions unfold across the country," Phaahla said.

As of Monday, South Africa had reported about 3.2 million infection cases and 90,148 deaths. So far, 25.5 percent of the country's population is fully vaccinated.