[ad_1]
JOHANNESBURG – The second wave of COVID-19 is coming soon if we are complacent and forget about masks and social distancing. That is the warning from Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.
More than 600,000 positive cases and more than 17,000 deaths have been recorded.
READ: COVID-19: Western Cape prepares for second wave
Mkhize said the number of infections has been around 10,000 a week for about five weeks and there has been an increase in cases in the last two weeks.
“We have to be very realistic here and not deal with this emotionally or try to create a controversy about it,” Mkhize said.
READ: NICD says it is difficult to predict the second wave of COVID-19
“It is a simple issue, we cannot say if we will have a second wave or not, but the risk is there. At this time, we have not seen an increase that indicates that there is a second wave, but we cannot say that people should be complacent, “said the minister.
“COVID-19 is still with us, especially if we start to think that we should be complacent and forget about masks and social distancing.
READ: COVID-19: Expect a second wave of infections – Sama
“Those are the risks we have to take, but if we are not careful it can emerge quickly … but we can still contain it if we all follow the containment measures.”
Africa accounts for 17 percent of the world’s population, but only 3.5 percent of COVID-19 deaths globally.
– Coronavirus hotline number: 0800 029999 from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday
Help protect your loved ones by sharing this official information South Africa Government COVID-19 Service with your family, friends and community.
Send HI to 0600123456 on WhatsApp.
The NICD has another Physician Hotline to improve # COVID19 communication and support for healthcare providers. The hotline for doctors is 0800 11 1131 and operates 24 hours. The public hotline is 0800 029 999 and is also open 24 hours a day.
