NICD: SA is entering 4th wave after sustained increase in seven provinces
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) said that South Africa is entering the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections after seven provinces recorded a sustained increase in cases on Wednesday, 1 December.
NICD SAYS 4TH WAVE IS HERE
The country added 8561 new cases on Wednesday and now has 36 600 active cases. A further 28 people died, which pushed the death toll to 89 871.
The 51 977 tests over the past 24 hours – on Wednesday – resulted in a test positivity rate of 16,5 percent, increasing on Tuesday’s 10,7 percent.
“The proportion of positive new cases/total new tested today is 16.5% which is higher than yesterday (10.7%). The 7-day average is 10.3% today, which is higher than yesterday (8.5%),” said the NICD.
The majority of the cases were found in Gauteng, which had 6168 new infections. However, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Western Cape had sustained increases in cases.
“The proportion testing positive in Gauteng has risen dramatically in the last 2 weeks, this may be a sign of the start of a widespread resurgence,” said the NICD.
The Institute added that provinces would experience the beginning and ending of COVID-19 waves at different periods.
The Institute encouraged the public to get vaccinated, as it is the best way to slow the spread of infection.
READ: SA records more than 8500 cases, positivity rate increases to 16%
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