The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19, says the change in the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been influenced by the high levels of immunity seen in the population.

Professor Jeremy Nel says a large proportion of the country’s adult population now has some degree of immunity, largely due to natural infection.

He says the country’s vaccination drive has also, to some extent, contributed to the heightened levels of immunity.

Nel says this has contributed to the decision to not continue with the practice of contact tracing.

Access the full briefing here.

Read Nel’s presentation here.

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The decision to not abolish contract tracing and quarantine should be reconsidered.

This, according to Vaccinology expert, professor Shabir Madhi.

Government, late in December also decided to scrap the curfew, just in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Madhi, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the WITS University, says the decision to not migrate the country to a higher level of lockdown, during the festive season, was the right call.

Madhi also urged schools to ensure sufficient ventilation in classrooms, to avoid the spread of Covid-19 among learners.

He reiterates that Covid-19 is an airborne virus which could very easily spread in poorly ventilated classrooms.

Madhi says maintaining a “safe” social distance from other is not enough to avoid transmission.

Get more information on the Department of Health website.

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