The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says South Africa is entering into the 4th wave of the Covid-19 pandemic with seven provinces showing sustained increases in cases.
The provinces are the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape.
The NICD has reiterated taking measures to reduce the spread of infection, including getting a COVID-19 vaccine, is the best way to slow the spread of infection.
The proportion testing positive in Gauteng has risen dramatically in the last 2 weeks, this may be a sign of the start of a widespread resurgence. It's important to note that provinces will experience the beginning and ending of the waves at different weeks (periods).
— NICD (@nicd_sa) December 1, 2021
The sustained increase in new cases is being attributed to the new Omicron variant.
The Head of Health in the Western Cape has confirmed that 60% of new cases recorded last week were positive for the Omicron variant.