Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane during the Albertina Sisulu memorial lecture at the St Georges Cathedral on 29 August 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Gallo Images / Daily Sun / Lindile Mbontsi)
COVID-19: ‘We have passed the peak of the third wave,’ says Kubayi-Ngubane
Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane announced that SA has passed the peak of the third wave of COVID-19 infections on Friday.
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane during the Albertina Sisulu memorial lecture at the St Georges Cathedral on 29 August 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Gallo Images / Daily Sun / Lindile Mbontsi)
South Africa has seen the worst of its third wave of coronavirus infections, according to Acting Minister of Health Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane. The acting minister and deputy, Dr Joe Phaala, briefed the nation on Friday, 23 July, on the government’s response to COVID-19.
KUBAYI-NGUBANE SAYS SA IS PAST PEAK OF THIRD WAVE
The latest government briefing on the COVID-19 crisis was bittersweet. Kubayi-Ngubane said that it appears that the worst of South Africa’s third wave of infections has passed and cases are declining, however, she also added that 47 500 potentially lifesaving vaccines were lost and120 pharmacies were damaged during the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
“All indications are that we have passed the peak of the third wave and the overall number of cases have started to decline,” said Kubayi-Ngubane.
The minister said that the government remains cautious and is concerned that the mass gatherings seen during the unrest could potentially result in the emergence of a new wave of COVID-19 cases.
“We appeal to you that if you were in protest gatherings, please go and get tested,” said Kubayi-Ngubane, adding that a number of the people arrested during the unrest tested positive for COVID-19 when the correctional services department took them in.
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) reported 14 858 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, 22 July and 433 deaths, with the positivity rate sitting at 26.5%.
The Centre Head for the Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response at the Institute, Dr Michelle Groome, was also cautious about the decrease in numbers earlier this week.
She said “trends in the coming week will be important in confirming whether the peak of the third wave has indeed been reached or not,” on Tuesday.
