Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says while the country is still at great risk of COVID-19, government is observing the daily new infections and remains on high alert.<\/p>\n
Phaahla said the next seven days until 6 May will give an indication as to whether the 5th wave of the pandemic has started.<\/p>\n
Addressing a virtual media briefing on Friday, the Minister expressed concern at the daily new infections, which has been rising to up to 6 000 new cases a day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to remain on high alert. The rise in daily infections took a sharper uptick during the last week,\u201d Phaahla said, adding that the trend needs to be observed.<\/p>\n
He said government has noted the spike of cases in other parts of the world.<\/p>\n
Nationally, there has been a 137% increase in new cases, compared to the seven days prior.<\/p>\n
Gauteng, Western Cape and the Northern Cape are showing the highest new daily infections.<\/p>\n
\u201cCOVID-19 remains a threat and it is not yet over\u2026 We cannot afford to drop our prevention measures. We urge those who have not vaccinated to come forward and take the jab.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are still under 50% of adults that have taken one dose of the vaccination. We need to get this to 60% of adults to protect us,\u201d Phaahla said.<\/p>\n
Phaahla urged young people who are between the ages of 18 \u2013 35 to come forward in their numbers to protect themselves and the elderly people around them.<\/p>\n
\u201cNatural immunity wanes with time and cannot be boosted. It is only the vaccine immunity that can be boosted,\u201d Phaahla said.<\/p>\n
The Minister said as winter approaches, people will spend more time indoors, with a risk respiratory infections.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, South Africa recorded 4 146 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 780 444.<\/p>\n
The increase represents a 18.3% positivity rate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been an increase of 64 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours,\u201d the Department of Health said in a statement. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: South African Government News Agency<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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