COVID: South Africa gradually 'returns to normalcy'

The world was shocked when the Omicron variant was discovered in South Africa last year. But life is almost back to normal there. The government has lifted most lockdown restrictions, and tourists are flocking back. The pandemic felt like a distant memory on the first Thursday of February in Cape Town. Once a month, galleries, restaurants, and shops in the city center open until late, turning the area into a massive pedestrian zone. 'Friends told me that there would hardly be any restrictions,' German tourist Dominik Irschik told DW. He had just arrived in Cape Town. 'But I didn't expect this. Streets, bars, and clubs are full of people — everybody is relaxed and lives like normal again. It's great,' Irschik said.