KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu says it remains unclear what has led to the decline in the number of active COVID-19 cases in the province in recent days.

There are currently 66 000 active cases in the province and over 206 000 active cases nationally.

 

Addressing a webinar, Simelane-Zulu says, “The number of infections in the past 4 or 5 days has dramatically gone down. Whether this is past the peak or just a slump for a couple of days, we are not sure.”

“As soon as we have the proper scientific research we will be able to speak to that. All we know for now is that our numbers in the past few days have gone down, whether it’s us plateauing or we are still going to go back, at this point we are not sure.”

Meanwhile, head of virology in the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Nokukhanya Msomi, has warned against fake news reports that are making people more hesitant about the vaccine.

“We have seen through early phase studies that these vaccines are safe. Any vaccine may cause some sort of undesired effect. What has been observed in currently existing vaccines, is that there are short term mild reactions like pain around the site where the vaccine was inoculated.”

The video below discusses the process of getting the COVID-19 vaccine in South Africa:

“A transient fever-like observed on a baby after receiving their inoculation that they are a bit groggy that day. Then they are fine after that because the immune system is responding to an allergen,” explains Dr Msomi.

Earlier, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala identified funerals as COVID-19 super spreader events.

In terms of COVID-19 disaster regulations, not more than 50 people are allowed to attend a funeral.

But, Zikalala says others still fail to adhere to stipulated regulations and health protocols.