South Africa tightens restrictions to tackle Delta variant Coronavirus pandemic News

President Cyril Ramaphosa has said South Africa has a “massive resurgence” of coronavirus infections as restrictions are re-imposed.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has re-imposed restrictions for two weeks to address the rise of the highly contagious variant of the Delta coronavirus.

The worst-hit country on the African continent “has a massive resurgence of infections,” the president said in a televised appearance to the nation on Sunday.

“Our health facilities are extended to the limit … ICU beds are in short supply,” he said as he placed the country at four alert levels, one level before the full blockade.

He banned all gatherings except funerals, which will be limited to No. 50, and also ordered a ban on the sale of alcohol. Restaurants and eateries can no longer make seated food, and will only be allowed to sell food to take away or deliver. The night toque is extended by an hour.

‘Destructive wave’

Authorities say the peak of the third wave – caused by the Delta variant first identified in India – will surpass the first wave in an effort to spread the vaccines rapidly in the country.

“We are subject to a devastating wave, which seems to be worse than the previous ones,” the president said.

“It looks like the peak of this third wave will be higher than the previous two,” he added.

Robyn Smith of Al Jazeera, from Cape Town, reported that according to the government, the Delta variant is currently the main variant in South Africa.

“The president has said that apparently the current government’s restrictions are not working and that people are not adhering to them,” Smith said, adding that the renewed blockade aims to remove the burden on the country’s health system.

South Africa reported 1,928,897 cases after registering 15,036 cases on Sunday, when 18,762 new infections were diagnosed than the previous day. The country has recorded 59,900 coronavirus deaths.