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New #Covid19 cases rise in all provinces

───   12:21 Thu, 06 May 2021

New #Covid19 cases rise in all provinces | News Article
PHOTO: Adam Niescioruk/Unsplash

Predicting when the third wave of infections will hit a largely unvaccinated South Africa has proved to be a difficult task – but the crest of the tide may just have come into view last night.

The South African reports the number of daily new cases recorded, hit a three-month high on Wednesday, breaching the 2000-mark for the first time since mid-February.

THIRD WAVE LOADING? ‘ALL PROVINCES’ SEE INCREASE IN INFECTIONS

Rather than this being a one-off spike in the data, a provincial breakdown of the numbers shows that there are sustained increases of COVID-19 infections across the board. Ridhwaan Suliman is a lead researcher for CSIR, and he has put together a startling graph that exposes upward trends across the country.

Free State, Gauteng, and the Northern Cape appear to be experiencing the sharpest increases:


Photo: Ridhwaan Suliman


THE WORRYING SIGNS FROM SOUTH AFRICA’S LATEST COVID-19 DATA

  • The test positivity rate is also showing a ‘sustained increase’ in the past few weeks – it’s now above 5.2%.
  • The number of new cases on Wednesday – 2 073 – is the highest figure since 18 February 2021.
  • Third wave fears have been compounded by Gauteng’s seven-day average for new cases – UP 33% in the last week.
  • The Free State has experienced the steepest rise in new infections since the start of April 2021.
  • COVID-19 hospitalisations have also shown an increase in the past few days, rising by about 5%.


THIRD WAVE FEARS STOKED BY NEW FIGURES

The Health Department also reported 46 deaths due to coronavirus yesterday, with a large majority of the deceased being reported in both Gauteng and Limpopo. A study released earlier this week predicted that a third wave could claim ‘at least 7000 more lives‘ in South Africa – and that’s only in the best-case scenario.

“Today 46 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape four, Free State one, Gauteng 19, KwaZulu-Natal two, Limpopo 18, and Northern Cape two – which brings the total to 54 557 deaths. We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients.”


The South African

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