SA records 4 482 new COVID-19 cases, 82 related deaths

Four thousand four hundred and eighty-two new COVID-19 cases have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 3 526 054.

This increase represents a 17.6% positivity rate. As per the National Department of Health, a further 82 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 92 453 to date. 

Latest SA stats:

Slight surge in cases

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) earlier last week said that South Africa will experience a slight surge in COVID-19 infections in the coming weeks as the festive season draws to an end.

After a significant drop over the festive season, it appears as if the number of new COVID-19 cases is rising again.

SAMA Chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee says they also expect the reopening of schools to contribute to the rise in infections in the next few weeks.

Coetzee says, “I think we will see a slight surge, not a very big one, especially in a week or two after the schools start, then I think it will come down again.”

“A lot of people has been infected with Omicron without them even knowing and people who I have seen in my own surgery that they don’t tend to go and test that easily anymore, they just accept that it may be COVID-19 positive and I’m getting better and I’m not going to get tested. We just need to see what the next week or two is going to bring into the numbers game,” adds Coetzee.