Covid-19: South Africa facing a second wave of contagion

Caregivers are demonstrating for more resources in South Africa in the face of the spread of the coronavirus.

June 19, 2020. REUTERS / Mike Hutchings

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3 min

The country is the most affected on the continent by the Covid-19 pandemic and it has exceeded the mark of 6,000 new cases per day, warned the Minister of Health.

South Africa is facing a second wave authorities said Wednesday evening.

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South Africa recorded 6,709 new cases on Wednesday alone as well as 135 deaths in the past 24 hours.

The Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, did not hide his concern.

The number of new contaminations

 has been rising sharply for

ten days

, suggesting this second wave, especially in the south of the country, in the Cape region, but also the south-east, and the region of Pretoria and Johannesburg. 

Unlike the first wave, it is mainly adolescents who are affected, mainly 15-19 year olds.

It's the end of the school year in South Africa, the start of summer vacation, and there are a lot of parties.

Which, for the Minister of Health, explains this increase in cases among this group.

Infections circulate quickly

 " warns the minister, " 

adolescents are very mobile and mostly asymptomatic

 ".

For the moment, there is no question of a new confinement, but the authorities call on everyone to be responsible during the Christmas holidays.

During the first wave, in March / April, very severe confinement was imposed for more than two months, with a total closure of schools, businesses,

borders

and a ban on leaving the home.

Today the country is not there, however the government imposed new restrictions last week, including a curfew.

But doctors are worried about the evolution of the epidemic and fear that the measures in place are not sufficient to stop this second wave.

Nearly 22,574 people have died in South Africa from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.

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  • South Africa

  • Coronavirus

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