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Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has sounded the alarm over a worrying trend of an increase in the number of new daily Covid-19 cases.
This comes as more than 2 000 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday evening, the second day in a row and the highest daily total in months.
Mkhize says in a statement the significant rise in percentage changes should be taken as a serious warning.
He said that in the past two weeks, they’ve noticed an increasing number of cases with the Free State, Gauteng, Northern Cape and North West of particular concern.
He said every province, with the notable exception of the Eastern Cape, has at least one district of concern.
Dr Mkhize commended the Eastern Cape, where every district has recorded a zero per cent average change, saying the Province had attained a plateau, which is very encouraging.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is keeping a close watch on the developments in India as the country faces a relentless wave of Covid-19 infections.
A more transmissive and deadlier B.1.617 strain has been discovered in India, which has been attributed to record high deaths and transmissions in the country.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that three travellers who arrived at King Shaka Airport tested positive for Covid-19.
The travellers came from India on two separate Qatar Airlines flights.
South Africa now faces growing pressure to institute a travel ban against India.
Ramaphosa told members of Parliament on Thursday that the decision would only be guided by science but that the variant being experienced in India was most worrying.
