COVID-19 remains a threat despite drop infections: Health Minister

Health Minister Joe Phaahla, has emphasised that while the COVID-19 infection rate has dropped, it still remains a threat.

Phaahla was speaking, following the announcement by President Ramaphosa, that the state of disaster has been lifted.

Ministers brief media to further unpack the address to the nation by president Cyril Ramaphosa

He has encouraged people to remain vigilant and has highlighted the importance of the remaining measures.

“Prevention measures such as the use of masks when you’re indoors is still very important because the virus is still there. We have seen what has been happening. We’re studying that in some countries, as we speak now, there’s a lot of concern,” says Phaahla.

“Currently, Shanghai in China is under lockdown. So, these kind of measures are to help us not to go there. So, the use of facemasks indoors, the management of gatherings,” adds Phaahla.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation

On Monday, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported 685 new COVID-19 cases in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 3 723 639.

The two new deaths bring the total fatalities to 100 052 since the outbreak of the pandemic.