South Africa’s health ministry on Wednesday reported 14,046 new COVID-19 cases, the highest ever single-day hike, bringing the country’s total number of confirmed infections to 954,258, reported Anadolu Agency.
“This indicates that the virus continues to spread exponentially,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in his daily COVID-19 update.
He noted that the current rate of spread is much faster as compared to the first wave, and the country will surpass the peak of the first wave in the coming days.
South Africa is already experiencing a second wave of the pandemic. The previous highest daily total recorded was 13,944 reported on July 24. The country has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths on the continent and is the 18th most-affected country worldwide.
“Our deaths continue to rise as well, and today [Wednesday], we are saddened to report an additional 411 COVID-19 related deaths,” the health minister said.
About 25,657 people have died of the coronavirus infection in South Africa so far.
Mkhize warned the people that the government will need to review the current restrictions and consider further measures to curb the alarming rate of spread. The country had imposed one of the strictest COVID-19 restrictions in the world four months back which barred people from leaving their homes, exercising outside their homes, attending church, or even walking their dogs.
“We can never stress enough the need for citizens to take every precaution necessary as we celebrate the festive season and look for a reprieve from a tough year,” Mkhize said.
In related news, a new strain of COVID-19 has been found in South Africa. The new strain, called the 501.V2 Variant, was first discovered in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape.
Germany, Turkey, Israel, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and the Netherlands have already denied permission to flights from South Africa to enter their country.
