South Africa lifts curfew as it says COVID-19 fourth wave peaked

"All indicators suggest that the country may have passed the peak of the fourth wave at the national level," said a statement from the special cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Health ministry data showed an increase in the number of newly discovered cases in the week ending Jan.

Health ministry data showed an increase in the South Africa was the hardest hit country in Africa during the pandemic, with around 3.5 million infections and 91,000 deaths in both cases.

In addition to lifting restrictions on public movement, the government said meetings will be limited to no more than 1,000 people indoors and no more than 2,000 people outdoors.

It also ruled that liquor stores would be allowed to operate beyond 11 p.m. (2100GMT) could revert to full licensing terms, which is a welcome boon for merchants and businesses hard hit by the pandemic and looking to recover over the holiday season.

The Omicron variant is highly transferable, there were lower hospitalization rates than in the previous waves, "said the cabinet, adding that the use of masks in public places was still mandatory. Masking when required is still a crime in South Africa.