Breaking News! South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Tests Covid-19 Positive
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
By Uganda Online
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the disease Sunday, his office said.
”The President started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service” for former President F.W. de Klerk in Cape Town earlier on Sunday”, the statement from the president’s office read.
The statement further noted that Deputy President David Mabuza will be taking over Ramaphosa’s responsibilities for the next week adding that he is self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service.
Ramaphosa, 69, is fully vaccinated. The statement didn’t say whether he had been infected with the omicron coronavirus variant.
Last week, Ramaphosa visited four West African countries. He and all 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. Throughout the rest of the trip, Ramaphosa and his delegation tested negative. Ramaphosa returned from Senegal on Dec 8, 2021.
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. Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness and hospitalization, it said.
People in South Africa who have had contact with Ramaphosa on Sunday are advised to watch for symptoms or to have themselves tested, it said.
