COVID-19 Update: No expectations of a major spike in infections, says Professor Karim

Professor Karim have said there won’t be a major spike in COVID-19 infections under Level 2 lockdown

KARIM: NO MAJOR SPIKE EXPECTED UNDER LEVEL 2

Professor Karim spoke on a positive note as regards COVID-19 in South Africa. He mentioned there should be little or no concerns over any surge in infections under Level 2 lockdown.

In other news, the Department of Health are requesting for the bodies of deceased citizens who succumbed to COVID-19.

The reason attached to this is – the Health Department want to collate a more accurate report of the death toll.

Karim also said there is progress in the battle of South Africa with COVID-19 and disclosed that a major spike during Level 2 won’t surface.

“When we look at the overall trend, we can see quite clearly that the downward trend is in all provinces and is pretty consistent.”

“We’d like to see us get to a point where we are below a thousand cases per day. We’re still at the high end… but that downward trend, if it holds, will enable us to get to the kind of level we need to get to.”

HEALTH DEPARTMENT WANTS TEST CARRIED OUT ON CORPSES FOR COVID-19

Sandile Buthelezi, health director-general said before the death (of citizens who died at home) is certified, testing must be carried out.

He said:

“The sole purpose of these post-mortem tests is to give public health authorities a fair idea of the number of deaths which are due to Covid-19.”

LATEST COVID-19 STATISTICS BY MKHIZE

Dr Zweli Mkhize, Health Minister confirmed new COVID-19 cases in South Africa has hit 613,017 with 1,567 new cases recorded today.

Mkhize said:

“Regrettably, we report 149 more Covid-19-related deaths: 35 from KwaZulu-Natal, 54 from Gauteng, 16 from Mpumalanga, 10 from Northern Cape, 16 from Eastern Cape and 18 from Western Cape. This brings the total number of Covid-19-related deaths to 13 308.”

Recovery still sits high at 520,381 which means the recovery rate is currently at 84%.