Health Department of Health’s mobile sampling and testing units. Picture: @DrZweliMkhize/Twitter.lth Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has announced that the number of COVID-19 infections in the country has risen to 1380 while the number of deaths remains at 5.
This is an increase of 27 from Tuesday’s announcement of 1353.
Mkhize addressed the media after launching the mobile sampling and testing units in Sandringham, Johannesburg.
Mkhize says there has been a slower increase of COVID-19 positive cases in the past few days.
He says the reduction has been ascribed to a number of factors.
“We closed the borders and reduced importation of the infection. Secondly, enforcing quarantine of the inbound travellers and returning citizens has slowed down the infection from a travelling community to a resident community. Thirdly, the lockdown has slowed transmission by reducing the risk of spread through large gatherings.”
Mkhize says there must be more vigilance because the internal transmissions is worrying, as it has started spreading to poor communities who cannot get tested immediately.
“Internal transmission has started and it may have a tendency to spread silently as people with less means and slight symptoms may be slow to seek medical help as they are few and far apart.”
Mkhize says the number of positive cases are not expected to drop anytime soon adding that the virus is increasing in all countries and one cannot assume it to be different in South Africa.
Faizel Patel
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