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South Africa's Ramaphosa has COVID-19 But Symptoms Mild, Presidency Says


South African President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the Johnson and Johnson coronavirus disease vaccination at the Khayelitsha Hospital near Cape Town, South Africa, Feb. 17, 2021.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the Johnson and Johnson coronavirus disease vaccination at the Khayelitsha Hospital near Cape Town, South Africa, Feb. 17, 2021.

South Africa's 69-year-old President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, though is showing only mild symptoms, the presidency said.

"The President started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honor of former Deputy President FW de Klerk in Cape Town earlier today," the statement added.

At the memorial service, a mask-wearing Ramaphosa gave a eulogy to the last leader of South Africa's white minority government, who helped negotiate an end it.

"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," the presidency added.

In the past few days, a nationwide outbreak believed to be linked to the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been infecting around 20,000 people a day. South African scientists see no sign that the variant causes more severe illness.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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