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The government said it is considering new measures to address the outbreak amid the threat of a new, fast-spreading variant.
South Africa has reported at least one million coronavirus cases since confirming its first case in March, the Health Ministry said late Sunday, just days after a new, faster-spreading variant of the virus was confirmed to be sprouting up in the country.
“Today, we have exceeded one million cumulative cases of COVID-19 in South Africa, with a cumulative total of 1,004,413 reported cases,” the ministry said in a statement.
The total number of deaths was 26,735.
The outbreak in Africa’s hardest hit country appears to be accelerating to the million mark crossed nine days after the country reported 900,000 cases. It took South Africa two weeks to reach 900,000 cases, compared to 800,000 in early December.
Several hospitals and medical centers have reported that wards are packed with patients and many healthcare workers cancel their vacations to cope with a large influx of patients.
Mediclinic International, one of South Africa’s top three private hospital networks, said on Sunday that a severe spike in cases had put enormous strain on its healthcare resources, including staff, equipment and beds for seriously ill patients. .
A nurse works with a COVID patient in a special room at Arwyp Medical Center on December 25. [File: Shafiek Tassiem/Reuters]
“The number of patients seeking care at our hospitals has surpassed previous numbers during the first peak and most of our intensive care and intensive care units are operating at capacity,” the company said, referring to Western Province. Cape.
The new variant, dubbed 501.V2, was discovered by a team of South African scientists who have been tracking the genetics of the virus. The variant appears to be focused on the south and southeast of the country and has been dominating the findings from samples collected since October, they said.
The Coronavirus Command Council, the main government body monitoring the disease, met on Sunday to decide whether more measures should be imposed, such as a stricter lockdown or stricter rules on public movement, according to local media News24. President Cyril Ramaphosa could give a television address later this week.
The number of daily cases in South Africa has already crossed the July peak. On December 25, it reported a record 14,796 cases.
South Africa has reported more COVID-19 cases than any other country in Africa [File: Luca Sola/AFP]
Since the new variant was announced, several countries canceled flights to the country and banned South African citizens.
South Africa has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Africa, followed by Morocco and Egypt.
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