The reason is the new omicron variant that has been running rampant across Europe. Gauteng reported a 3.9 per cent decrease in the number of Omicron infections, compared to the previous week (377 cases per 100,000 persons). Genome sequencing and other genetic analysis showed that the Omicron variant was responsible for all the samples. Omicron cases "look like they've peaked", Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, was quoted as saying. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the UK so far has recorded 60,508 cases of Omicron.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 22, 2021 16:22 UTC