According to South Africa, the Omicron Wave may have reached its apex

South Africa has lifted its overnight curfews, claiming that the country’s fourth wave of COVID-19 infections has reached its peak.

According to a government statement, the Omicron strain, while highly transmissible, had lower hospitalisation rates than prior waves. It also stated that the number of deaths had increased slightly.

The variation, which was first discovered in South Africa last month, is rapidly spreading throughout the world, resulting in severe restrictions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a “tsunami” of Delta and Omicron variant illnesses that might overwhelm health systems.

However, a statement made after a special cabinet meeting in South Africa said that cases and hospital admission rates had fallen in virtually all provinces. The number of confirmed infections for the week ending December 25, 2021, was 89,781, down from 127,753 the week before.

The modifications include removing limitations on movement between the hours of midnight and 4:00 a.m. Instead of closing at 23:00, businesses will be able to sell alcohol under standard licencing rules.

Since the declaration of a national state of calamity in late March 2020, several levels of overnight curfew have been in place.

Despite the Omicron wave, officials say “the country still has spare capacity for admittance of patients, even for regular health services.”

The public is still being advised to be vaccinated and observe public health guidelines, which include wearing a mask at all times. To allow for social separation, gatherings are limited to 1,000 people indoors and 2,000 outside or 50 per cent of the venue’s capacity.

Officials stated the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) will keep an eye on the situation and make adjustments if needed or if hospital pressure rises. During the pandemic, South Africa had about 3.5 million COVID-19 cases and over 90,000 fatalities, more than any other African country.