Cape Town: Cabinet has assured South Africans that the government, through the Department of Health, is closely monitoring the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, known as Nimbus or NB.1.8.1. ‘Cabinet calls on all citizens to ensure good hygiene practices, including avoiding unnecessary hand shaking, washing hands with soap, covering the mouth when coughing, using a mask when one has flu, and staying home when one is not feeling well,’ Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced on Thursday in Cape Town.

According to South African Government News Agency, the virus is associated with a rise in cases in certain regions of Asia. ‘During the COVID-19 pandemic, we demonstrated that through these simple measures we could reduce the spread of respiratory illness,’ added the Minister. The briefing was aimed at informing the public about the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 11 June 2025.

Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi emphasized that South Africa has robust surveillance systems in place, managed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), to monitor such developments.