Covid-19 in SA | Expert says no need to panic just yet

JOHANNESBURG - The country may be entering the fifth wave of Covid-19 infections.

This according to Professor Mosa Moshabela.

Both Thursday and Friday, nearly 10,000 new infections have been recorded.

Most new infections are concentrated in Gauteng.

READ: COVID-19 | 9,253 new cases, 7 more deaths

The positivity rate skyrocketed to over 26 percent from a 10 percent low just a few weeks ago.

But he says there's no need to panic just yet.

"I think the biggest burden is gonna be on us as South Africans. Most people are going to have infections that won't end up in hospital but they could have long covid, making it difficult for people to go to work and it may end up spreading to people with vulnerabilities," he said.

"I think we have to take it upon ourselves to protect those among us who are vulnerable and avoid the burden of long covid and other complications of Covid."

READ: Covid-19 | South Africa bracing for fifth wave

Meanwhile, Professor Francois Venter, Ezintsha Divisional Head at Wits University, said there’s evidence that we are entering the fifth wave.

There's a sharp increase in infections, with over 9,000 cases and seven deaths reported on Friday.

"If it does prove to be the fifth wave, I think we can anticipate it's going to be B4 and B5 subvariants of Omicron," Venter said.

"It's not good news if this is truly a fifth wave and as I said, it looks likely."