South Africa toughens restrictions to combat Delta variant

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa facing ‘massive resurgence’ of coronavirus infections as he reimposes curbs.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reimposed restrictions for two weeks to combat a surge in the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant. The worst-hit country on the African continent “is facing a massive resurgence of infection”, the president said in a televised address to the nation on Sunday. “Our health facilities are stretched to the limit … ICU beds are in short supply,” he said as he placed the country on alert level four, just one level below a full lockdown.