South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for COVID-19.
The 69-year-old is suffering from mild symptoms, his office announced in a statement issued on Sunday night. Ramaphosa began feeling unwell after attending yesterday’s state memorial service for the former apartheid-era president FW de Klerk.
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“The President is in good spirits but is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service of the South African National Defence Force,” the statement read. “The President, who is fully vaccinated, is in self-isolation in Cape Town and has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.”
In a post on Twitter, Ramaphosa urged South Africans to be vaccinated as the country continues to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant. It’s not known whether Ramaphosa is carrying the Omicron variant, which make up the bulk of cases in South Africa.
“Thank you, fellow South Africans, for your good wishes following my COVID-19 positive result,” the president wrote.
“As I recover, my message of the week is: don’t let your guard down. Do everything you can and need to, to stay safe, beginning with vaccination.”
