Experts have warned that the increase in Covid-19 cases in the country is a concern and if the spread is not contained, a third wave – worse than the last one – is likely to occur.
The experts, however, said the new variants detected in South Africa were not driving the surge.
This comes after Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize confirmed Covid19 variants dominant in India and the UK had been detected in South Africa.
Mkhize said of the 11 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the UK, eight were detected in the Western Cape, with two having a history of travel from Bahrain, one was detected in KwaZulu-Natal and two in Gauteng.
He said of the four cases of the B.1.617.2 variant first detected in India, two were found in Gauteng and two in KZN.
“All cases have been isolated and managed according to national Covid19 case management guidelines and contact tracing has been performed in order to limit the spread of this variant,” said Mkhize.
He said the “Indian variant” was detected in community samples which suggested that community transmission of B.1.1.7 has already set in.
Professor Thumbi Ndung’u, deputy director of the African Health Research Institute, said the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases was particularly of concern now with winter around the corner.
Ndung’u warned the South African Covid-19 modelling consortium was predicting the third wave might be worse than the second one.
“Now is the time to fully comply with Covid-19 protocols,” he said.
Ndung’u said it was highly unlikely South Africa could avoid new variants emerging or being transmitted as long as people were being infected.