Omicron Cases Spike Towards 20k/Day, But Symptoms Still Mild

LOCAL NEWS

• SA records 19,842 new cases of Covid-19 & 36 deaths overnight. SA’s 7-day rolling average has now overtaken the peak of the first wave at 13k – reaching 13,493 yesterday.
  • Although hospitalisations are climbing, the number of patients on ventilators & in ICU remains low. Health Experts said they do not expect a material tightening in lockdown restrictions, however
• Energy expert Mike Russouw calls for Eskom to shut 5 plants to reduce the impact of load-shedding as Eskom lacks the resources to maintain the existing fleet.
  • Highlights Arnot, Camden, Grootvlei, Hendrina & Komati as plants to shut as they only contribute 13% of SA’s energy capacity and resources would be better allocated to newer more efficient plants
• Transnet CEO says the state-owned firm’s financial position may only start to improve in late 2022 with vandalism and the recent cyber attack still weighing on the company’s performance with a FY21 R8.4bn loss on the cards. This is its first loss in years and is the only SOE that funds its own operation capital.
  • Notes the company will need to retrench 10% of its workforce and warns that government’s localisation push may drive prices higher over the medium-term