A totally unvaccinated nation now has a confirmed case of Omicron in its capital city. The situation is about to get brutal in North Korea.

Experts believe South Africa’s approach to the Covid-19 pandemic without a lockdown is correct, some believe the world will follow suit.

Leading experts say South Africa is in its fifth Covid-19 wave but the health department has been sluggish to make the announcement.

Could recent Covid-19 cases spikes be a short-lived outburst or the start of the fifth wave? Professor Salim Abdool Karim explains.

The experts have spoken: Despite the emergence of ‘new Omicron strains’ in SA, scientists remain relaxed about our next variant of COVID.

Our top scientists have found two new Omicron variants – both here and abroad. But the experts aren’t all that concerned by these findings.

Need your news quickly ? Watch daily News in a minute videos from The South African YouTube page for all that you really need to know!

The rate of COVID-19 reinfections are increasing in some parts of the world, here’s a look at common they are and how severe they can get.

The Omicron mutation known as BA.2 has ‘completely taken over’ from the original variant. And yet, South African scientists are unmoved.

A new strain of Omicron is surfacing in South Africa, and it’s likely to outgrow the original mutation. However, our scientists aren’t fazed.

You might hear a thing or two about Omicron mutations ‘becoming dominant’ in SA soon – but it’s best to listen to the professionals.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the end to its extended flight and entry ban placed on South Africa.

Middle East carrier, Emirates Airlines has pushed back the expected date for the resumption of flights from South Africa yet again.

Is this the good news we’ve all been hoping for? Professor Abdool Karim says that Omicron ‘is likely to have a positive impact’ on new COVID variants.

Following in the footsteps of France and Germany, two more European countries scrap their entry bans against South Africa.

Mauritius has lifted its ban and opened its borders to travellers from southern African countries with immediate effect.

Two of Mzansi’s top COVID-19 experts are buoyed by the Omicron data – and this variant has essentially ‘changed the pandemic’.

‘If you just so happen to run into me on the street, you don’t have to isolate’: American musician Omarion says he is not a COVID-19 variant.

In addition, Minster in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele says hospital admissions from the Omicron variant of COVID-19, have dropped

One variant, two different responses. The UK didn’t want to listen to South Africa on Omicron – until the same results were seen elsewhere.

After closing its borders to South Africa last month, Mauritius has again extended its entry ban on nationals from southern Africa.

Passengers and those using airports run higher risks of contracting the highly transmissible Omicron variant, according to an expert.

The Maldives has adjusted its entry requirements and lifted its ban on visitors from countries in southern Africa.

The DA says the economy needs saving. Cyril Ramphosa must therefore end curfew before New Year’s Eve. Also, what about midnight festivities?

Covid-19 has played havoc with the Premier League over the festive period – traditionally one of the busiest periods of matches in England.

Two countries in Europe have again eased the entry restrictions they imposed on nationals from Southern Africa last month.

Qatar Airways has again extended its flight ban on passengers departing from several Southern African states.

The new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, can seem like just a cold or the flu… but you can never be too careful or sure.

Travel to Europe is not likely to be allowed any time soon with European countries’ decision to maintain travel restrictions on South Africa.

Eat, drink, and be merry over Christmas – because this new research on Omicron and its severity is everything we’ve been hoping to see…

Crucially, South Africa managed to get through its Omicron peak without introducing new restrictions – but will other countries follow suit?

The CDC has confirmed that the Omicron variant is now the most dominant COVID-19 strain, overtaking the delta variant.

The PSL has confirmed that Kaizer Chiefs’ request to postpone their December DStv Premiership fixtures has been declined! Here’s the new log.

The lines are bending in the right direction when it comes to hospitalisations in Gauteng – with signs of a peak now emerging.

Well, doesn’t this look good? Other provinces are now following the trends seen in Gauteng, where the Omicron wave has peaked.

If this latest Gauteng hospitalisation data is a sign of things to come, then South Africa might just be able to breathe a sign of relief.

One variant, two very different responses. The Omicron strain of COVID has the UK spooked – but Dr. Angelique Coetzee sees no need for panic.

Things look significantly better in Gauteng during the Omicron wave of COVID-19, and it’s hoped the rest of SA will follow this pattern.

Get in there. Our Christmas plans will remain undisturbed, after the NCCC decided against new lockdown restrictions, keeping SA at Level 1.

Australia has become the latest nation to lift its travel ban on South Africa, but there are plenty of caveats here…

The first ‘real-world’ data shows that Omicron could indeed be causing milder illness – and it’s much less likely to make you severely ill.

If you take anything away from the first real-world Omicron data coming out of South Africa, this stat on hospitalisations is a great go-to.

The leading lady of the SA Medical Association, Dr. Angelique Coetzee, has been left ‘astonished’ by the international reaction to Omicron.

Hang your head in shame, Sajid Javid – because this is one of the biggest lies you could wish to tell about the origins of Omicron.

As it stands, the Gauteng Omicron data is giving our COVID forecasters some slight room for optimism – here’s what you need to know.

We can learn a lot from ‘the R rate’ of each district in South Africa – and one region in particular is feeling the full force of Omicron.

It’s understood President Ramaphosa is weighing up more lockdown restrictions for South Africa – but does the data on Omicron support that?

Dr. Angelique Coetzee is on a mission to get the rest of the world to take her seriously – and the SAMA chair is holding her line on Omicron.

Isolating, social distancing or just staying at home during the festive season? Here are five tips to keep in touch with your family.

The road towards controlling Omicron will be bumpy, but for now, there are many positives – and we’re not just talking about COVID tests.

South Africa’s present for detecting a potentially dangerous COVID-19 variant wasn’t exactly in the spirit of Christmas. When our top scientists revealed what Omicron was up to, we were rewarded with closed borders and a place on the UK’s tedious ‘travel red list’. However, the absurdity of punishing Mzansi is now dawning on some politicians. […]

A prominent education activist is urging schools to close BEFORE the Christmas break starts, to counteract the spread of the Omicron variant.

The Omicron variant has pushed Covid-19 infections in Zimbabwe to record highs with a spike in locals testing positive for the strain.

Another data model has highlighted how the Omicron variant *could* be causing milder COVID cases, and hospitalisations in Gauteng remain low.

It spreads like wildfire, but just how severe is an Omicron infection? Another leading medical body in SA has labelled the variant as ‘mild’.

With the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, the pressure is on the government to introduce a vaccine mandate.

There’s no need for outright alarmism over Omicron, and that’s according to two of the highest COVID-19 authorities on the planet.

Omicron remains a cause for concern, but scientists are happy with its immune escape levels – and vaccines DO stand firm against the variant.

Well, it looks like we’ve now got a ‘vegan vaccine’. Medicago, a Canadian pharmaceutical company, has taken a completely different approach.

The Gauteng Government says it is measuring up its options – and it may soon approve the local usage of two so-called ‘COVID pills’.

Omicron remains under the microscope this week, but we’re learning that this variant presents us with a very mixed bag of results.

Hulisani Ravele has clapped back at claims she was paid to tweet about her experience with Covid-19 and vaccines…

The next few days are vital for shaping our understanding of how Omicron will impact SA, and everyone else. We’ve got the latest updates here.

Omicron comes with apparent dangers, but is it really presenting more of a threat to kids than other variants? Experts aren’t too sure…

We are still learning about just how dangerous the Omicron variant will be – but more lockdown restrictions are likely to be announced soon.

Are we simply delaying the inevitable? Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed on Monday that new lockdown measures may be needed to stave off Omicron.

We’re learning more about the impact of the Omicron variant each day – and new data from hospitals in Tshwane paint an intriguing picture.

Research conducted in Tshwane – the ‘global epicentre’ of the Omicron variant – has given us some promising news from local hospitals.

Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs have sensationally elected to FORFEIT their home DStv Premiership clash against Cape Town City FC on Saturday.

Now KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng are the only to provinces that have officially entered into the fourth wave of COVID-19

This one is alarming. The Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital is worried. Children under 12 have been admitted for COVID-19 symptoms.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says while the Omicron variant is more transmissible, hospitalisations will likely not be as high as before

Kaizer Chiefs have forfeited their home DStv Premiership match against Cape Town City FC which was scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Trevor Noah mocks Texas govenor Greg Abbott’s remark that South Africans are illegally crossing the border to the US.

Who’d be a health minister? With the Omicron strain ripping through Mzansi, Joe Phaahla faced some tough questions about lockdown on Friday.

The Cardiff Rugby squad finally departed Cape Town on Friday morning after being stranded in Mzansi for over a week.

The big O: Omicron is the name of a new Covid-19 variant, but also the name of two sci-fi movies and even a creepy video game…

Gauteng has the eyes of the world watching, following the discovery of the Omicron variant and a recent explosion in new COVID cases.

‘The point of no return’: Plett Rage organisers say the 900-person event will still take place despite the cancellation of the Ballito Rage.

‘We’ll take our apology in free plane tickets & hotel stays,’ wrote Trevor Noah after news that Omicron was apparently already in Europe before its SA detection.

The new COVID-19 variant Omicron has now been detected in at least 27 countries worldwide, and the numbers are steadily growing.

A government spokesman said that France will start allowing flights from South Africa to land on its territory, but restrictions apply.

‘Most cases of Omicron COVID are mild’, one senior WHO source said on Wednesday – but make no mistake, this variant still packs a punch.

‘As a South African, I think this travel ban is total bulls***’, Trevor Noah said of the travel restrictions placed on African countries.

The continued uncertainty around Omicron has resulted in the complete suspension of travel between South Africa and Thailand.

The Omicron variant is likely to outcompete Delta in the weeks and months ahead – but what will it mean for the pandemic itself?

We’ll take it: The first findings on how our vaccines will hold up against the Omicron variant look reassuring… for now.

Ke Dezemba Boss: Staff at Konka restaurant and nightclub in Soweto are making their safety a priority by getting COVID-19 vaccinations…

Darren Fichardt has been forced to withdraw from this week’s SA Open at Sun City after testing positive for Covid-19.

As it turns out, the troublesome Omicron variant had been in The Netherlands way before the country shut it borders with South Africa.

‘It will be “evil” if we cannot answer the questions that the world needs about Omicron due to the travel ban.’ The world needs SA’s Omicron data and SA needs reagents. However, Professor Tulio de Oliveira said he will only accept reagent shipments once travel bans are lifted.

‘The audacity’: Tweeps have hit out at former SA Olympic swimmer Roland Schoeman whose Twitter comments on Covid-19 went viral…

‘Why would we vote for Miss Apartheid?’: Lalela Mswane has been met with overwhelming criticism after her appeal for Miss Universe votes.

Indonesia has dropped out of the Miss Universe pageant while other contestants have been granted travel waivers to compete.

The City of Cape Town is hit by the sudden international travel ban but remains confident in enjoying a bright December tourism season.

Travel ban: Locals can’t fly back home or visit loved ones! Government has now offered a hand to those who are stranded overseas.

Omicron, the latest Covid variant, has caused quite a stir, leading to travel bans – with South Africa on the “red list” and vaccine concerns

After last week’s shock discovery of the Omicron variant, the good news shared on Monday could very well outweigh the bad news…

Miss SA Lalela Mswane has continued to court controversy after secretly departing for the Miss Universe pageant in Israel over the weekend.

Suspensions and positive Covid-19 cases forced Kaizer Chiefs to make SIX changes to their starting XI for Sunday’s clash against Swallows.