The Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla says it’s difficult to say whether South Africa has entered the fifth wave of Covid-19 infections. But he says this week’s statistics will give a clearer picture. Phaahla has acknowledged that there has been a drastic increase in new coronavirus cases, driven by the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
Meanwhile, an internist from Bloemfontein says the current number of cases in the country can be 3 to 6 times more, than the current official stats. Dr. Freek Bester says this is because many people stay at home to get well and do not get themselves tested anymore.