JOHANNESBURG (SOUTH AFRICA) – The health minister said on Wednesday, that three South African provinces, which were considered coronavirus hotspots have witnessed fewer infections in recent weeks.
Financial hub Gauteng, tourist centre Western Cape and the Eastern Cape have seen a spike in rises for months. The total cases were at roughly 183,000, 97,000 and 80,000 respectively.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told, “The number of new infections is increasing at a lower rate than what had been happening in the whole of June and up to the middle of July. That clearly indicates to us that there is a declining trend.”
Mkhize noted a presentation showing the average number of new cases in the country’s nine provinces and said that in Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, surges in infections might have peaked.
However, Mkhize gave warning that two other provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State, had witnessed high rates, and any failure to comply with measures like wearing masks could see the coming back of infections.
He said, “We may well be over this peak sometime towards the end of August. But if we don’t insist on distancing and use of masks we actually can have a second surge.”
The minister said, “We are not out of the woods yet, because those who are managing the admissions and treatment and hospitalisation of patients can still feel that the wards are full.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
