National Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has expressed his concern about an apparent spike in COVID-19 cases in South Africa. An issue which he feels needs to be addressed as soon as possible before the virus wreaks further havoc on the country.
In a statement issued by the health minister on 21 October 2020, he explained, “When we emphasise that the risk of a resurgence remains high, we do not do so to instil fear in you. As the government, we have a responsibility to alert you when we see concerning trends.”
This follows Dr Mkhize reading and analysing South Africa’s epidemiological reports. Such is the concern around the rate of new infections and deaths; the Health Department will now be making recommendations to the government’s National Coronavirus Council.
The health minister says, “It would be irresponsible of us to ignore “small flames” that we see redeveloping in some parts of the country.”
Furthermore, Dr Mkhize claims that according to epidemiological reports, there has been an increase of 9.1% in new cases over the past 7 days. Similarly, over the last 14 days, there has been an increase of 10.7%.
To illustrate his point regarding a resurgence of the virus in individual provinces, the health minister explained the Western Cape had recorded a 42% increase in new infections. He adds, “According to our resurgence plan, we define this significant spike in new cases in the Western Cape as a resurgence.”
The Western Cape Provincial Health Department has identified specific clusters which are responsible for the increase in cases and has advised that each of these clusters has been investigated and a detailed outbreak response is being mounted.
Moreover, the Health Department has noted the single biggest cluster outbreak has been identified to be in the Southern Sub-district in the Cape Metro. This has apparently been linked with a super-spreader event in a tavern.
Dr Mkhize states, “We are now encouraging all provinces to pay attention to these increasing numbers and quickly mount a response, including contact tracing and quarantine.”
Currently, the cumulative number of detected cases is 708 359, with 2055 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The number of COVID-19 related deaths stands at 18 741.
In the Amajuba District, there have been 6 894 confirmed cases, 216 deaths and 6 643 recoveries. According to the KZN Department of Health, there are 2 599 confirmed cases in the Umzinyathi District and 2 490 recoveries. Only 86 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the Umzinyathi District.
Additionally, the KZN Department of Health reports there are 5 157 confirmed cases in the Uthukela District, with 144 coronavirus related deaths and 4 963 recoveries.
With the Health Department now making recommendations to the National Coronavirus Council, Dr Mkhize reminds South Africans, “The only weapon we possess as a country is our social behaviour and constant adherence to health protocols. All of us must take this responsibility and always encourage those around us.”
Authors: Quinton Boucher & Calvin Swemmer
Edited: Calvin Swemmer
2 Responses
I was in a motorbike accident and highly upset to see staff members without handclove and masks or sneezing and coughing a
Over you without washing their hand! Then they put a drip in your arm with those dirty hands, again no proper hanfcloves was the worn.. It’s calling for a a disaster to happen.
Not exseptible for me or any other patient
They can start ask the self, how do I want to be treated in hospital. Or what if it is my child or elderly lying there in pain or even worse.