Concern over Covid cluster outbreak in Tshwane
Communicable diseases experts say trends and differences in Covid-19 cases in South Africa are being closely monitored.
The NICD says there's an upward trend in the seven-day moving average for new infections, with an increase recorded in case numbers among those aged between 10 and 29-years-old in Tshwane over the past week.
A cluster outbreak - affecting the 20 to 44 year age group - has been picked up at the Tshwane University of Technology.
The NICD's Adrian Puren says it's not yet clear if this localised spike in cases will lead to a widespread resurgence.
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“Previous waves have been driven to a large extent by the emergence of new SARS V2 variants. For example, in the second wave, we have the beta variant and in the third wave, we have the delta variant. The delta variant still remains the dominant variant in circulation.
“Genomic sequencing in Africa has to date not yet detected the emergence of any new variants which are making an increasing portion of the sequences. Regardless of the potential of new variants in the future, the importance of non -pharmaceutical interventions remain unchanged.”
