Despite having exited the fourth wave ahead of the winter season, Health Minister Joe Phaahla believes a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections can be expected as the colder days approach.
Phaahla addressed the media on Friday, 4 February on the government’s efforts to fight the COVID virus and the national vaccine rollout programme, reports News24.
However, the Minister spent the briefing focusing on the positive aspects such as the decline in the number of infections with South Africa having officially exited the fourth wave.
“We again appeal to all South Africans to seize the opportunity of protecting themselves and those around them now,” Phaahla said.
“While the fourth wave remains stable, even though we are not completely out of it while the rate remains above 10%, we know that the virus is still very far from being eliminated.”
Despite the positive note, the minister indicated that a fifth wave of infections could be a possibility later in the year.
“It is expected that by the end of February we will reach below 5% positivity, which will signal stability, but there is also expectation that as we get closer to winter, the fifth wave will break out – or even earlier, depending on variants of concern.”
Phaahla also urged the public to get vaccinated as he revealed that high coverage vaccination would reduce the emergence of more variants, as per ENCA.
This prediction is in line with when and how the previous waves of infections came about since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Also Read:
Will asking for a COVID-19 test before a date become the norm in 2022?
Picture Cape {town} Etc Gallery