MONDAY: 13th September, 2021: South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa has on Sunday announced plans to introduce Covid-19 “vaccine passports” amid extensive cynicism of the jab, ahead of an easing of movement restrictions this week.
After lethargic procurement and a delayed roll out, Africa’s worst-hit country for Covid is now struggling with low take-up, particularly among men.
Ramaphosa, in a televised address to the nation, stressed that an immunised adult population was key to fully reopening the economy and avoiding a fourth infection wave.
In two weeks, we will “be providing further information on an approach to ‘vaccine passports’, which can be used as evidence of vaccination for various purposes and events”, he said without providing further details.
He however added that “a sustained decline in infections… over the last few weeks would allow for an easing of confinement measures from Monday.
"A night-time curfew will be shortened, starting at 11:00 pm instead of 10, and limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings will be increased.
"Restrictions on the sale of alcohol will also be relaxed, although face masks remain mandatory in public.
"South Africa has passed the peak of a stubborn third infection wave driven by the Delta coronavirus variant," said Ramaphosa.
The average number of daily new infections has been 29 percent lower over the past seven days than during the previous week, and 48 percent lower than the week before that, he added.
“Our most urgent task is to vaccinate our population,” he said, noting that jab supplies “were no longer a constraint”.
“If many people are not vaccinated… the chance of new and more dangerous variants emerging if far greater,” he warned.
