Johannesburg, Feb. 1, (dpa/GNA) – South Africa has abolished most of its anti-coronavirus measures in the face of a fourth wave of infections that has now subsided.

Schools are returning to normal classes without the previous distance rule.

In addition, those testing positive without symptoms will no longer have to be quarantined in future, following the government’s decision late on Monday night.

For those with symptoms, the duration of isolation has now been reduced from 10 to seven days.

According to these new decisions, those who have come close to infected persons will only have to be quarantined if they have symptoms. However, the obligation to wear a mask and general hygiene rules remain in force.

The relaxation was justified by studies according to which about 70 per cent of the population in South Africa have already been infected.

On Monday, only 1,366 new infections were reported in the country of almost 60 million inhabitants.

Initial findings also pointed to a rather mild course of the disease for those infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus compared to the Delta variant.

South Africa is now at the lowest level of a five-stage alert system.

Calls for the outright abolition of restrictions have increased in recent weeks.

With more than 3.6 million registered infections and a good 95,000 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic, South Africa is considered the country on the African continent most affected by the coronavirus pandemic in terms of numbers.

The economy has also been hit hard: The unemployment rate was officially 34.9 per cent at the end of last year. If one adds those who have given up looking for a job, it is as high as 44.6 per cent.

Among the travel restrictions that have now been largely lifted in many countries, the important tourism sector, which contributes almost 10 per cent to the gross domestic product of South Africa and secures hundreds of thousands of jobs, has been particularly affected.

GNA

Johannesburg, Feb. 1, (dpa/GNA) – South Africa has abolished most of its anti-coronavirus measures in the face of a fourth wave of infections that has now subsided.

Schools are returning to normal classes without the previous distance rule.

In addition, those testing positive without symptoms will no longer have to be quarantined in future, following the government’s decision late on Monday night.

For those with symptoms, the duration of isolation has now been reduced from 10 to seven days.

According to these new decisions, those who have come close to infected persons will only have to be quarantined if they have symptoms. However, the obligation to wear a mask and general hygiene rules remain in force.

The relaxation was justified by studies according to which about 70 per cent of the population in South Africa have already been infected.

On Monday, only 1,366 new infections were reported in the country of almost 60 million inhabitants.

Initial findings also pointed to a rather mild course of the disease for those infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus compared to the Delta variant.

South Africa is now at the lowest level of a five-stage alert system.

Calls for the outright abolition of restrictions have increased in recent weeks.

With more than 3.6 million registered infections and a good 95,000 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic, South Africa is considered the country on the African continent most affected by the coronavirus pandemic in terms of numbers.

The economy has also been hit hard: The unemployment rate was officially 34.9 per cent at the end of last year. If one adds those who have given up looking for a job, it is as high as 44.6 per cent.

Among the travel restrictions that have now been largely lifted in many countries, the important tourism sector, which contributes almost 10 per cent to the gross domestic product of South Africa and secures hundreds of thousands of jobs, has been particularly affected.

GNA