The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will formally gazette the extension of the National State of Disaster on COVID-19 until January 15 after the previous extension ended on November 15.
The extension was confirmed by the Minister in the presidency, Mondli Gungubele, during a media briefing on Thursday, December 9. According to Gungubele, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet has approved the extension as this would make it the 22nd month in which South Africans would live under COVID-19 regulations since it first started in March 2020.
During the briefing, Gungubele explained that the National State of Disaster is aimed at responding to the special circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic after 19 842 new cases were reported in South Africa in the last 24 hours.
“While most of us will be taking a well-deserved festive break, we must remember that COVID-19 does not take a holiday. A safe holiday period for you and your loved ones can be guaranteed by a simple jab at your nearest vaccination site.”
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Gungubele further indicated that the cabinet has called on all South Africans to continue to be vigilant and avoid large social gatherings in order to make the festive season joyous and safe for everyone by not drinking and driving.
Meanwhile, the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) has approved the administering of the third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for adults and children with a weak immune system. The approval means that all adults in South Africa are now eligible for an additional shot six months after the second dose and it may be given at any point after that time.
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