At this stage, the department is monitoring the positivity rate of new cases and if the rate exceeds the 10% mark, the warning lights will flicker, signalling the third wave. For now, the rate is between 7% and 9%. New cases of the coronavirus also increased from Wednesday to yesterday.

Staying with the story, almost 600 000 people in South Africa have so far been vaccinated against the virus. More than 480 000 health workers have received the Johnson & Johnson jab and more than 116 000, the Pfizer vaccine.