South Africa
South Africa’s Covid-19 cases on the rise again─── 06:16 Sat, 19 Nov 2022
The Department of Health confirmed that Covid-19 infections are on the rise again in South Africa.
However, it has not detected a new variant.
The latest epidemiology brief by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) shows that KwaZulu-Natal reported the highest weekly incidence risk followed by Gauteng and the Western Cape.
The latest cases reported on Wednesday stood at 2,938 cases.
Spokesperson for the department, Foster Mohale, says although no new variant has been detected so far, an increase in daily coronavirus cases is detected.
"We work closely with the scientists that have been working with us since the outbreak of the pandemic to assist us with the modelling and also to closely monitor the situation, but also trying to check whether other countries are experiencing what we are currently experiencing, which is indeed, what we are experiencing in South Africa, other countries are experiencing the same fluctuating rise of infections.
“But in terms of the announcement, it is too early for the public to panic about this," says Mohale.
He says there is still no indication of any restrictions this festive season.
"For now, we want to put this in the hands of the public to say we need to do everything possible to protect ourselves.
“The fact that we lifted Covid-19 restrictions, we must still observe Covid-19 preventative protocols.”
Mohale says the government is keeping a close eye on a possible new wave.
"Technically, some other scientists say this is a sign that anytime we might be entering an unusual new wave, normally we define a wave by linking it with a new variant of concern, but unfortunately at the moment, we have not detected any variant of concern.
“So the only variants that are dominating are the variants of omicron which is BA.1, BA.4 and BA.5 but that doesn't mean that we cannot be hit by a wave, so the rising number of cases remain a concern to us, meaning at any time we might be hit by a new wave despite the fact that there is high level of immunity at a community level.
“But as we know an individual can only have immunity for 6 months after getting the jab, meaning that those who have passed 6 months after vaccination might be vulnerable to this pandemic," adds Mohale.
