4 954 new coronavirus cases reported in SA

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported 4 954 new COVID-19 cases in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 3 785 398.

This increase represents a 22.5% positivity rate. The majority of new cases on Friday are from Gauteng (44%), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (27%).

“Today, the NDoH reports five deaths, and of these two occurred in the past 24 – 48 hours. This brings the total fatalities to 100 360,” says the institute in a statement.

24 445 151 tests have been conducted in both public and private sectors.

Below are the latest coronavirus statistics: 

Fifth wave debate

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla says despite the sharp rise in new COVID-19 cases in the past few days, there is still a debate on whether or not the country is officially in the fifth wave.

He says Gauteng accounts for 53% of new infection cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

Dr Phaahla briefed the media on government efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic:

“The question, which is now on top of our minds, is whether we have entered the fifth wave. Professor Salim Abdool Karim, previous chair of the ministerial advisory committee, in his analysis believes that we have entered the fifth wave.”

“It is argued that we can only say we have entered the fifth wave if there is a sustained more that 6 237 cases per day. We are already over 6300. So it does suggest that we may be entering the in the fifth wave. We just have to wait for a few more days to be sure,” explains the minister.