Agency Report

South Africa, where the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was detected last month, said Thursday that restrictions including a night-time curfew would be lifted after the country overcame its latest wave of infections.

Calls for the midnight to 4 am curfew to be lifted had been mounting among operators in the hospitality sector ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations with owners launching an online petition addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The curfew will be lifted. There will therefore be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people,” the presidency said in a statement.

Alcohol sales will be permitted after 11 pm for licensed premises.

“All indicators suggest the country may have passed the peak of the fourth wave at a national level,” the statement said.