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The Health Minister said that epidemiological reports were showing that in the country, in the last 7 days there had been a 9.1% increase in new cases.
Minister of Health, Dr. Zweli Mkhize. Image: Kayleen Morgan / EWN
JOHANNESBURG – Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said that after reading and analyzing the country’s epidemiological reports on Wednesday morning, he couldn’t help but worry.
“I want to draw the attention of all South Africans that our epidemiological reports are showing that in the country, during the last 7 days there has been an increase of 9.1% in new cases. Likewise, during the last 14 days, there has been Ha there has been an increase of 10.7%.
“We are also seeing worrying increases in some of the provinces. To illustrate this, in the last 7 days, there was a marked increase in the number of new cases in the Western Cape. The province recorded a 42% increase in new infections.”
“In accordance with our resurgence plan, we define this significant increase in new cases in the Western Cape as a resurgence. The Western Cape Provincial Health Department has identified specific groups that are responsible for the increase in cases and has reported that each of these groups have been investigated and a detailed response to the outbreak is in preparation.
“We have noted that the largest cluster outbreak has been identified to be in the southern sub-district in the Cape metro, and this has been associated with a super spreader event at a BAR. We await further reports of the response from WC Health. teams that must now target sub-districts with a high increase in new cases in the last two weeks.
“We are now encouraging all provinces to pay attention to this growing number and quickly prepare a response, including contact tracing and quarantine.
“We must mention that the rate of new infections and deaths will inform the recommendations that the Department of Health makes to the National Coronavirus Council. While we continue to monitor the development of a vaccine, the only weapon we have as a country is our social behavior and constant adherence to health protocols, a responsibility that we must all assume and always encourage those around us.
“Comrades South Africa, when we emphasize that the risk of a resurgence remains high, we are not doing it to instill fear in you. As a government, we have a responsibility to alert you when we see troubling trends. It would be irresponsible of us to ignore the ‘little flames’ that We see redevelopment in some parts of the country You will recall that a few months ago when we witnessed these trends, it was not long before we began to experience a burden on our healthcare system.
“We must also pay attention to the main lessons of COVID-19 which is that despite the anxiety, psychological trauma, physical suffering and pain of the lives we lost, COVID-19 has reawakened our deep Ubuntu values. in all of us. We have been reminded that we must care more, love more, emphasize with our families, friends, colleagues and even those we hear about in the media. This is the same spirit that we must carry in the fight against all the other health and social ills facing our society, including gender-based violence. “
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