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Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize warned that current restrictions may have to be reviewed after South Africa recorded more than 14 000 new Covid-19 cases in a 24-hour period.
This was the highest single-day increase in cases recorded on Wednesday, with the previous highest being 13 944 recorded on 24 July 24.
"Today we report, with concern, that 14 046 Covid-19 cases have been identified since the last report at a positivity rate of 26%. The cumulative total of Covid-19 cases today is 954 258," he said.
Mkhize also reported that 411 Covid-19 related deaths were recorded during the 24 hour period, the second-highest daily death toll and only the third time the tally had passed the 400 mark.
The Health Minister said the virus was spreading "exponentially" adding that the country would surpass the peak of the first wave in the coming days.
He warned South Africans that government would need to review the current restrictions and consider further measures to ensure that we curb this alarming rate of spread," he said.
"All provinces, with the exception of the Eastern Cape, continue to report increases in their cases with KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng Province registering the largest increases and comprising 81% of the new cases today (30%, 28% and 23% respectively)," he said.
Mkhize said it would be important to evaluate the situation in these provinces, identify hotspots in these areas and make recommendations based on these findings and the outcomes of what has been implemented in the hotspots that have been identified so far.
He said the government could not stress enough the need for citizens to take every precaution over the Festive Season.
