By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s confirmed number of Covid-19 cases has increased by more than 3000 for a second day in a row.
The Health Ministry confirmed that 3 141 new infections were reported, taking the total number of cases in SA to 1 608 393.
Gauteng now has the country’s highest number of active cases (7 186) following by KwaZulu-Natal (5 602) and the Northern Cape (5 171).
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said 112 new Covid-related deaths have been recorded, increasing the total count to 55 124.
Free State and North West have back captured data over several months as part of their auditing processes, Mkhize explained.
The cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 522 165, representing a recovery rate of 94,6%. The number of tests conducted to date is 11 052 993. Of these 41 994 tests were conducted since the last report. The number of vaccinations completed under the Sisonke Protocol stands at 474 318,” Mkhize said.
Meanwhile the department of health is working with provinces to update their resurgence plans to ensure that these are activated.
These plans mainly include case management, contact tracing, oxygen availability, bed capacity, respiratory support equipment and human resources.
“As the country, we are on high alert, and we know that the main drivers of the new wave will either be the resurgence of new variants and/or the fatigue from adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions.”
The department is also working closely with the genomic sequencing team to ensure they can pick up new variants earlier.
“So we want to assure South Africans that we have not yet hit the third wave however we are at risk and we hence need to be on heightened vigilance as a country,” it said
While the number of COVID-19 cases has been steadily increasing, South Africa has not hit the third wave yet.