South Africa
New #Covid19 cases rise in all provinces─── 12:21 Thu, 06 May 2021
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.”