Level 2 coming SOON: ‘We’re encouraged by the numbers’ – Phaahla

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla says they’ll continue to assess the downward trend of COVID-19 cases in the country and could soon advise for some restrictions to be eased.

Phaahla was speaking at a vaccination site at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on Friday morning, 3 September 2021.

“We are discussing this on a weekly basis. We are reviewing and encouraged by the declining numbers. We will do our analysis from the Department of Health and are also advised by our Inter-Ministerial Committee… if it becomes clear that there is stability and the infection rates are definitely stabilising, we will give the necessary advice,” Phaahla said.

The minister says he hopes COVID-19 cases in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Western Cape will also drop. Phaahla painted a positive picture of the country’s battle against COVID-19, saying most of the provinces seemed to be seeing a decline in infections.

“We are hoping that KwaZulu-Natal will start to decline and Eastern Cape will stabilise,” he said.

Level 2 for South Africa?

Dr Joe Phaahla says they are optimistic about the country seeing less restrictions in the next few weeks – only if the numbers continue to take a dip.

“So you can look forward to some more relaxations, but that will still mean that it’s going to be all of our responsibility to observe the necessary COVID-19 protocols. I want to assure the nation that were are not oblivious of the pressure of restrictions at Level 3. So we will give the necessary advice”

Phaahla has also praised Gauteng for emerging out of the third wave, as COVID-19 infections continue to decline in the province. Phaahla has however stressed the importance of still applying the necessary non-pharmaceutical measures.

Gauteng was considered the epicentre of the third wave, but was overtaken by KZN.