Faizel Patel – 23/12/2020

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

The Health Ministry says that another 14,046 COVID-19 infections have been picked up on Wednesday.

The latest cases published  have pushed the known number of infections since the start of the outbreak to 954,258.

Another 411 people have also died after contracting the virus.

These latest fatalities bring the national death toll to 25,657.

The ministry says the recovery rate currently stands 85% meaning that 811,372 people who have recuperated.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says the rapid number of infections continues to spread exponentially.

“Indeed the rate of spread is much faster than the first wave and we will surpass the peak of the first wave in the coming days. We must warn South Africans that we will need to review the current restrictions and consider further measures to ensure that we curb this alarming rate of spread.”

Mkhize says all provinces, with the exception of the Eastern Cape, continue to report increases in their cases with KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng Province registering the largest increases and comprising 81% of the new cases today (30%, 28% and 23%).

“Therefore, it will be important for us to evaluate the situation in these provinces, identify hotspots in these areas (and in other provinces where they may be identified) and make recommendations based on these findings and the outcomes of what has been implemented in the hotspots that have been identified so far.”

Mkhize has stressed the need for citizens to take every precaution necessary as we celebrate the festive season and look for reprieve from a tough year.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 is unrelenting and we therefore cannot afford to be complacent at this stage. We urge all South Africans to adhere to the regulations and recommendations pertaining to the National State of Disaster, avoid large gatherings and congested environments.”

Mkhize has urged South Africans to adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions: that is wearing of masks, social distancing and sanitization of hands and shared surfaces.