South Africa welcomes Covid-19 vaccines, eases restrictions

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visits coronavirus disease treatment facilities. [Reuters]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday hailed the arrival of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine as a chance to “turn the tide” on a disease that has devastated the country.

Once testing of the batches is completed, the first shots will be given to health workers, who have been stretched during a second wave of infections and have been critical of the government for not securing supplies sooner.