The government is considering strengthening its Covid-19 strategy in an effort to increase the uptake of vaccinations and ease economic pressures resulting from the lockdowns to quell the spread of the Omicron virus.
Health department officials told Business Day on Wednesday that government was looking at “alternatives” for the current requirement of international travellers presenting a negative PCR test result not older than 72 hours from the time of departure. This includes the use of Antigen tests, which are more affordable and deliver results within minutes.
Antigen tests show the presence of Covid-19 antibodies and are more affordable than PCR tests, with results available within minutes.
Health department spokesman Foster Mohale said they were considering using Antigen tests. “Once we have properly looked at them by structures, we will be ready to make an announcement,” he said. “But as of now, the status quo remains. There are no changes.”
If the government uses Antigen tests at points of entry for those who do not have a valid PCR negative result, there may also be no need for the extensive enforcement of a mandatory quarantine period.
Covid-19 has caused havoc to SA’s economy through numerous lockdowns under the national state of disaster since March 2020.
SA received 10.2-million international overnight visitors in 2019. In 2020 and 2021 this dropped sharply to 3.2-million, almost 70% less than in 2019, according to government statistics.
Although the Covid-19 vaccine showed high efficacy during the fourth wave of infections, less than 50% of South Africans are fully vaccinated.
Government has released booster shots for all those already vaccinated at sites throughout the country.
Mohale insisted that the fourth wave of infections was “not over”, saying Gauteng could see another peak as people return from holidays.
SA recorded 6,762 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday. Just under 100,000 deaths have been recorded since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.
“This maybe the final peak of the fourth wave. If people vaccinate, we could postpone the fifth wave significantly,” Mohale said.
Gauteng premier David Makhura called on residents in the province to “rationalise” their approach in dealing with Covid-19.
He said the task for citizens was to continue wearing masks “because they work”. If the economic lockdown was not reduced, it could cause generational damage.
“I think that there’s grave, grave, grave danger. Evidence is coming to the fore that having the rotational system, which was introduced, understandably, as part of managing the pandemic, it is really not working,” he said at a media briefing on the first day of schooling in Gauteng.
