Ramaphosa to Meet NCCC over New B.1.1.529 Variant & Rapid Spike in COVID-19 Infections

President Cyril Ramaphosa will meet with the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) on Sunday to assess developments in the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes after the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Thursday confirmed that 22 cases of a new variant of the Coronavirus B.1.1.529 had been detected in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong.

Scientists have expressed concern about the new variant and are working to understand its potential implications including whether the COVID-19 vaccine is effective against it.

The Presidency says the outcomes of the NCCC discussions and further consultations will be communicated in the coming days, which could mean that Ramaphosa will address the nation.

Government has urgesd all South Africans to vaccinate and to remain disciplined in applying the known safety measures, to ensure a safe and joyful festive season with families and friends.