COVID-19: Ramaphosa, team tested ‘multiple times’ during visits to Nigeria, 3 others ─S’African Presidency

*Sixty Nine-year-old South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive to the virus, and is now self-isolating in Cape Town

*Ramaphosa and his team tested for COVID-19 multiple times during their recent visits to four West African countries, including Nigeria, says South African Presidency

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Though fully vaccinated against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, 69-year-old South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive to the virus, and is now self-isolating in Cape Town.

President Ramaphosa began feeling unwell after leaving a state memorial service for former President F. W. de Klerk in Cape Town Sunday, December 12, 2021.

The South African leader is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service,  according to report.

Recall the Southern African country recently discovered cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant of the Coronavirus before Ramaphosa tested positive to Coronavirus.

The Presidency noted that Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild symptoms.

The 69-year-old leader is now self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service, his office disclosed.

In the meantime, the President has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.

The Presidency, nevertheless, did not say whether Ramaphosa had been infected with the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus.

This publication had reported the highly mutated variant, which was first detected in South Africa November, has sparked global panic over fears that it is more contagious than other strains of the Coronavirus.

Presidential visits to Nigeria, 3 other West African countries

Earlier, South African Presidency in a statement had said Ramaphosa and his team were tested for COVID-19 multiple times in the past week during visits to four West African countries, including Nigeria.

However, report indicates that some in the President’s delegation tested positive in Nigeria, and returned directly to South Africa.

Throughout the rest of the trip, Ramaphosa and his delegation tested negative, according to report.

The Presidency also stated: “The President and the delegation returned to South Africa from the Republic of Senegal on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, after obtaining negative test results.

“The president also tested negative on his return to Johannesburg on December 8.”

The statement quoted Ramaphosa as saying that his own infection served as a warning to all citizens of the importance of getting vaccinated and remaining vigilant against exposure.

It further said: “Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness and hospitalisation.”

“People who have had contact with the president today are advised to watch for symptoms or to have themselves tested,” it added.

South Africa’s battle against Coronavirus pandemic

Health officials have said that the Southern Africa country is currently battling a rapid resurgence driven by the Omicron variant.

In early November, South Africa was recording about 200 new cases, but infections began rising dramatically soon after, report said.

The country recorded more than 18,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday night.

Over 70 percent of the cases are estimated to be from Omicron, according to genomic sequencing surveys.

So far, the majority of cases have been relatively mild, and the percentage of severe cases needing oxygen have been low, according to medical doctors.

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