South Africa lifts four-hour overnight curfew, saying COVID-19 fourth wave has peaked

Johannesburg —  South Africa, where the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was detected last month, said Thursday that many restrictions, including a night-time curfew, would be lifted after the country overcame its latest wave of infections.

Calls for the midnight to 4 am curfew to be lifted had been mounting among operators in the hospitality sector ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations, with owners launching an online petition addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

"The curfew will be lifted. There will therefore be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people," the presidency said in a statement.