One in three tests come up positive

While the country sees promising signs of a declining number of new Covid-19 cases compared to the previous week, the second wave continues to put a massive burden on the healthcare system, according to Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize during an update on Covid-19 and the new variant, 501.V2, on Monday.

He said the decrease in infections could be credited to many factors, including enhanced physical distancing facilitated by lockdown regulations. And he found it encouraging that citizens were able to protect themselves against the coronavirus variant with the “armour” government had established.

But Mkhize raised concerns about the healthcare system that continued to see an uptick in Covid-19 patients.

Data showed 18.3% more cases for the week ending 16 January, compared to the previous seven days, with close to 18 000 patients being admitted, 2 472 in the intensive care unit. A total of 1 117 were on ventilators and 5 850 had required oxygen.

“This is a significant additional burden to the system,” he said

Covid-19 ministerial advisory committee chair professor Salim Abdool Karim said one in three tests were coming up positive as the country battled the second wave – higher than the first wave.

“This ... is largely driven by the virus that biologically looks like it can attach to human cells more efficiently,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the numbers of additional infections were coming down, with the Western Cape and Eastern Cape showing indications of easing off.

“But we’re still in the throes of the second wave,” he added.

The daily admissions during the resurgence had been more than double than at any level during the first wave.

The new strain of the virus spread much faster and a study showed it was 50% more transmissible than previous variants found in SA.