By: Kaya 959 News
The Gauteng Department of Health is concerned over the spike in new Covid infections in the last week. Yesterday, South Africa recorded an increase of 9 149 new Covid cases, prompting the National Institute of Communicable Diseases to declare the country ‘technically’ in a third wave.
“South Africa technically entered the third wave today as the national 7-day moving average incidence (5959 cases) now exceeds the new wave threshold as defined by the Ministerial Advisory Committee. The MAC advisory defined the new wave 7-day moving average threshold as 30% of the peak incidence of the previous wave,” the NICD explained.
Of the new infections recorded, 61% of the cases came from Gauteng.
Gauteng DoH spokesperson, Kwara Kekana, said the sub-districts with the highest number of new confirmed cases were Tshwane 3 and Tshwane 4, Region C in JHB and Region B as well as Ekurhuleni N2 and S1, Mogale City and Emfuleni.
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Kekana urged communities to adhere to non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the spread of the virus.
“This includes physical distancing, wearing of masks and hand hygiene. People should also avoid public spaces and large gatherings and to seek early care should they develop symptoms,” she said.
The department continues to monitor adherence to Covid-19 measures in communities, schools and public places.
Kekana said they are also intensifying contact training efforts, especially in hot spot areas.
Cabinet spokesperson, Phumla Williams, said earlier this week, SA made significant progress on vaccinations.
“SA reached 1, 524, 589 and the Pfizer First Dose vaccinations breached the one-million mark with 1, 045, 245, which is a remarkable milestone. In addition, over three million people registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System, which is a cause for celebration in our concerted fight against the spread of the virus,” Williams said.
She said the partnership with the private sector on vaccination and the overall Covid-19 programme strengthens the nation’s efforts in ensuring that the lifesaving vaccines and the message on safety measures against Covid-19 pandemic reach more people.
The World Health Organization said nine out of 10 African countries will miss the vaccination goal.
WHO said as cases in Africa rise for the third week running and vaccines are increasingly scarce, 47 of Africa’s 54 countries—nearly 90%—are set to miss the September target of vaccinating 10% of their people unless Africa receives 225 million more doses.
“As we close in on 5 million cases and a third wave in Africa looms, many of our most vulnerable people remain dangerously exposed to Covid-19, said WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti.
Moeti said vaccines have been proven to prevent cases and deaths, so countries that can, must urgently share Covid-19 vaccines.
“It’s do or die on dose sharing for Africa,” she said.
At 32 million doses, Africa accounts for under 1% of the over 2.1 billion doses administered globally. Just 2% of the continent’s nearly 1.3 billion people have received one dose and only 9.4 million Africans are fully vaccinated.
READ: SA records 5000+ COVID-19 cases for a second day
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