South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild Covid-19 symptoms after testing positive on Sunday, the office of the presidency said in a statement.
He has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.
Ramaphosa "started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honor of former Deputy President FW de Klerk in Cape Town earlier today," the presidency statement said.
He is, however "in good spirits" and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service of the South African National Defence Force.
"President Ramaphosa says his own infection serves as a caution to all people in the country to be vaccinated and remain vigilant against exposure. Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness and hospitalization," the statement said.
In a tweet Monday, Ramaphosa thanked South Africans for their good wishes and warned citizens to remain vigilant in the fight against the virus.
"As I recover, my message of the week is: don't let your guard down. Do everything you can and need to, to stay safe, beginning with vaccination," he said. "Vaccines dramatically reduce the chances of severe illness, hospitalisation and death. Let's all protect ourselves. Vaccination is free, easy and it works."
Vaccines dramatically reduce the chances of severe illness, hospitalisation and death.
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) December 13, 2021
Let’s all protect ourselves. Vaccination is free, easy and it works.
South Africa, where scientists identified the new Omicron variant, has recently entered its fourth wave of the pandemic. Just over 25% of the country has been fully vaccinated, with an additional 5% partially vaccinated, according to CNN's global vaccine tracker.
Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated, recently returned from a trip in West Africa. He tested negative for Covid-19 upon his return to Johannesburg on December 8, according to his office.
The President is now in self-isolation in Cape Town.
Latest Stories
-
Baby abandoned in manhole in Tema Community 1
4 mins -
We’ll establish fiscal council to rein in excessive borrowing – Finance Minister
10 mins -
Mortuary workers issue fresh strike threat
14 mins -
‘Lapses in banking system are not unique’ – John Awuah on managing fraud in Ghana’s Banks
22 mins -
Bawumia confident of victory in 2024 election
56 mins -
Strengthening audit institutions essential for tackling fiscal mismanagement – Domelevo
1 hour -
Healthy Aging: The Role of the Gut Microbiome and How Diet Can Help
1 hour -
Seek medical care, diagnosis for breast cancer – Dr Abiti to women
1 hour -
Hardship: Men now collect marriage list from different families to get cheapest – Report
1 hour -
‘If you’re looking for trouble, you’ll get it,’ Falz tells VeryDarkMan
1 hour -
Paramount Chief of Avenor grateful to NPP, calls for completion of Agenda 111 project
2 hours -
Bawumia commissions ultramodern office complex for Ho Municipal Assembly
2 hours -
Bawumia declares NPP’s infrastructure record unmatched
2 hours -
Importers face duty on Electric Vehicles despite gov’t’s exemption promises
2 hours -
4 additional Democracy Hub protesters discharged
2 hours