Dr Owen Kaluwa, the World Health Organization representative in South Africa, says the increasing numbers of new Covid-19 cases are concerning.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases recently announced that there was an increase of 144 hospital admissions as a result of Covid-19 complications.
The institute reported 9 253 new cases, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 827 378, an increase that represents a 26,6% positivity rate.
“We know a number of scientists predicted this would happen around this time,” Kaluwa said. “The debate whether we are already in a fifth wave or not is, in my view, not very important. What is important now, given the increasing numbers of infections, is for those who are not vaccinated to do so urgently. This includes those who are partially vaccinated.”
He reminds members of the public that vaccination ensures better protection from developing moderate to severe disease when one is infected with Covid-19.
Meanwhile, health and social security expert Professor Alex van den Heever said the country was already in a fifth wave.
“The waves consistently peak at the national level in July and December. Only the provincial starting point varies. There will be no need for going into a lockdown. Prior infections and vaccinations appear sufficient to prevent severe illness at a population level. This is likely to be the pattern indefinitely.”
Meanwhile, the trade union Solidarity has instituted legal action against the draft health regulations published in the Government Gazette by Health Minister Joe Phaahla.
The regulations relate to the surveillance and control of notable medical conditions, public measures at ports of entry and management of human remains.
Phaahla extended the public consultation period for the draft by three months.
“With regard to wearing a face mask, a person must, when entering and being inside an indoor public place, wear a face mask,” he said. “This does not apply to children at school. Again, under these limited regulations, no person may use any form of public transport unless wearing a face mask.
“For any indoor and outdoor gathering a maximum of 50% of the venue capacity may be occupied, provided every person there is vaccinated against Covid-19 and has a valid vaccination certificate.”
However, Solidarity described the regulations as unlawful and irrational.
Its chief executive, Dirk Hermann, said the fact that the government admitted in the Government Gazette that it needed more time to consider all the input from the public, but was nevertheless gazetting the regulations, was an indication the public comment process was regarded as a mere inconvenience. He says it shows the government would rather govern by dictating to its citizens.
Hermann said Solidarity’s legal team was also considering further legal steps to challenge the substance of the regulations.
• This article was first published in The Conversation.com.
