eThekwini under observation after 'worrying' increase in Covid cases
Daily Covid-19 infections in South Africa are on the rise, and the Health Ministry says eThekwini has been placed on a list of districts now under observation by public health institute, the NICD.
In the last 24 hour period, the country recorded 2 150 new coronavirus cases.
It's a slight increase from Wednesday's 2 073.
Minister Zweli Mkhize re-emphasised that we all need to play our part to ensure that the rise in infections doesn't turn into a third wave.
He says over the past two weeks, they've noticed a trend that's worried them.
The number of Covid infections in a number of districts - including in eThekwini in KwaZulu Natal - has been going up.
Active cases in KZN have climbed to almost 5 500.
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There's particular concern about areas in the Free State, Gauteng, Northern Cape and North West.
He says the districts have seen an average 20% rise OR more in infections - in the past 14 days.
They've been flagged by the NICD and are under observation.
Sixty-three more people have lost their lives, bringing the pandemic death toll to 54 620 now.
The Minister says the Eastern Cape's recorded a zero percent average change. This doesn't mean districts aren't getting new infections - it means they've maintained a plateau.
Meanwhile, Mkhize's appealed for calm as South African scientists examine samples taken from Covid patients that travelled from India.
He says the variant detected in our country - has more mutations that the one discovered in India - and that we were still able to control the spread of infections and bring the wave down to a plateau.
