[Global Times Special Correspondent in South Africa Wan Yu] Since the discovery of the mutant new crown virus, South Africa has once again been hit by the epidemic, and the number of new confirmed cases has increased exponentially.
On the 24th, there were 14,305 newly confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in South Africa, surpassing 14,046 on Wednesday, breaking the record of newly confirmed cases in a single day after the March outbreak of new coronary pneumonia in South Africa for two consecutive days.
On the 1st of this month, there were only 2,295 newly confirmed cases in South Africa.
According to a Reuters report on the 25th, South African Health Minister Mukez said that the second wave of new coronary pneumonia epidemics spread faster than the first wave, and the number of confirmed cases is increasing exponentially, which is likely to be caused by the mutated new coronavirus.
He said, “We urge all South Africans to abide by the regulations and recommendations related to the state of the country’s disaster, avoid large gatherings and crowded environments, ensure that places where people gather have adequate ventilation, and remain vigilant to comply with intervention measures.” Currently, South Africa The first-level lockdown measures (the highest level five) are still maintained, and the South African Ministry of Health said on the 24th that it will review and adjust the epidemic prevention measures.
As of the 25th, 14 countries or regions have suspended flights to and from South Africa.
The mutated new coronavirus was discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa. However, the health authorities of the two countries have been fighting over the infectivity and origin of the virus.
According to a report by the "South African" news network on the 25th, Mukez issued a statement on the 24th to refute the accusations made by British Health Secretary Hancock.
Mukez said in the statement: "Hancock recently stated that the mutated virus infection cases in the UK are all related to visitors from South Africa, implying that the mutated virus discovered in South Africa played a major role in the second wave of the outbreak in the UK. This is incorrect. There is evidence that the British virus variants were discovered earlier, dating back to September 20 this year, about a month earlier than the appearance of the South African variants.” In addition, the statement pointed out that there is currently no evidence that the South African variants are more infectious than the British variants. Sex may lead to higher mortality.
Whether the existing vaccines can resist these virus variants still needs to be studied.
According to news from the website of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa on the 25th, the number of new coronary pneumonia cases among Chinese citizens in South Africa has shown a rapid increase, resulting in two additional deaths.
A cluster of infections occurred in Chinatown in Johannesburg, and many people have been diagnosed.