JOHANNESBURG, June 13 — South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said Tuesday that the country is closely monitoring the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, known as Nimbus or NB.1.8.1, which has been linked to a resurgence of cases in parts of Asia. Motsoaledi made the remarks during the 4th Health Working Group meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) held in Johannesburg, which focused on pandemic preparedness. According to him, the available data showed low levels of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in South Africa. “Our National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) manages a comprehensive sentinel surveillance program that systematically tests for key respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV. Currently, our data show very low SARS-CoV-2 activity,” Motsoaledi explained. “Crucially, the new variant remains a descendant of the Omicron lineage. This means that current recommendations for updated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are still effective. Therefore, at this stage, no specific new public health actions are required from the public,” he said. The week-long G20 Health Working Group meeting began on Tuesday and will conclude on Friday. The event brings together health leaders, experts, and policymakers from the world’s largest economies, invited nations, and international organizations.
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