A further 65 Covid-19 related deaths had also been reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 21 709. The last time South Africa recorded similar new daily Covid-19 infections was in mid-August.
According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NCID), there has been a major surge in cases in the Eastern and Western Cape with more than 2000 cases recorded per day.
“With the holiday season rapidly approaching and many making plans for travel as well as social gatherings, South Africans need to be especially aware of the need to comply with non-pharmaceutical measures to minimize transmission of the virus,” reads the statement released by the NCID on Wednesday.
The Eastern Cape province, specifically the Garden Route, and parts of the Western Cape Province have experienced a resurgence in the past two to three weeks.
He explains that they have been engaging with government to impose a lockdown for hotspot areas. He says if government does impose lockdowns for high risk areas, it will mean a return of a curfew and restrictions at events.
“We’ll enforce curfew of certain hours from 22:00 to 04:00 people won’t be allowed outside. They will clamp down on events , make them smaller where will only allow 100 people. But that will only be for areas considered as hotspots,” says Bredell.
What is a second wave?
A second wave is defined as a new wave lasting one or more days, commencing after the ‘end of the first wave’. It furthermore refers to an occurrence, after the previous peak, where the caseload returns to at least 30% of the previous peak’s caseload.
The NCID says its difficult to determine why the two provinces are experiencing a resurgence, however it’s flagged non-compliance to Covid-19 regulations as a problem.
“Super-spreader events, where large groups of individuals gather without observing physical distancing or wearing of masks, are obvious contributing factors. And unless the situation is contained and rapidly brought under control, our hospital services will not be able to cope with the influx of Covid-19 patients, let alone any other emergencies.”
South Africa is currently on level 1 of lockdown with all economic activity in full swing.
With the relaxing of stringent lockdown regulations, many South Africans have become blasé to the need to continue wearing a mask, which is mandatory, as well as maintaining adequate physical distance.
Reports suggest government is now considering implementing more stringent lockdowns in hard hit districts.
