The COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant – also known as the R350 grant – is expected to be extended to the end of March 2024. This as government continues to consider options for a replacement for the grant with no decision taken yet on how the replacement will be financed. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the extension of the grant during his presentation of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon. “The SRD grant was introduced in May 2020 as a temporary measure to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable, who were affected by [COVID-19 induced] lockdown measures. It has been extended several times since then. Discussions on the future of the grant are ongoing and involve very difficult trade-offs and financing decisions,” he said. As a result of the extension of the SRD grants, other social grants – such as old age grants and disability grants – will increase lower than inflation. According to Treasury, the SRD grant is ex
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| What are the new variants of COVID-19? |
The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, and new variants of the virus are emerging all the time. Some of the most recent variants include:
- BA.2: BA.2 is a subvariant of Omicron that is now the dominant variant in many parts of the world. It is thought to be more transmissible than previous variants, but it is not clear if it is more severe.
- BA.4 and BA.5: BA.4 and BA.5 are two other subvariants of Omicron that are rapidly spreading. They are thought to be even more transmissible than BA.2, and they may be able to evade some of the protection offered by vaccines and previous infection.
- XE: XE is a recombinant variant that is a mix of BA.1 and BA.2. It was first identified in the United Kingdom in January 2023, and it is thought to be more transmissible than either of its parent variants.
These are just a few of the new variants of COVID-19 that have emerged in recent months. It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest information about these variants so that you can take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Here are some things you can do to protect yourself from new variants of COVID-19:
- Get vaccinated and boosted: Vaccination and boosting are the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. Vaccinations can help to prevent you from getting sick, and they can also help to reduce the severity of your illness if you do get sick.
- Wear a mask: Wearing a mask can help to protect you from getting COVID-19. Masks can help to block the virus from entering your body through your nose and mouth.
- Social distance: Social distancing can help to reduce your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Social distancing means staying at least 6 feet away from other people who are not wearing masks.
- Wash your hands often: Washing your hands can help to remove the virus from your hands. The virus can live on surfaces for hours or even days, so it is important to wash your hands often, especially after being in public places.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick: If you are around someone who is sick, avoid close contact with them. This means staying at least 6 feet away from them and avoiding touching them.
- Stay home if you are sick: If you are sick, stay home from work, school, and other activities. This will help to prevent the spread of the virus to others.
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from new variants of COVID-19.
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