The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says if the next wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is worse than expected, the national state of disaster could be reinstated.

The next wave is expected in May, or June this year.

Dlamini-Zuma says the health department will then give advice on whether the state of disaster should be reactivated.

She says this will happen if infection rates are high and the country’s hospitals start filling up.

Watch the full briefing here.

Related articles:

• The End to the State of Disaster: The pandemic will be managed through the Health Act instead.
• Millions of Covid-19 vaccines likely to be destroyed as vaccine uptake wanes.
• South Africa moving into post-State of Disaster response mode.

The lifting of the state of disaster does not automatically mean that the COVID-19 pandemic is over. We must remain cautious and vigilant because we have learnt that this virus is unpredictable and the situation can change rapidly. #COVID19 #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/1MUA4jBwUw

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 6, 2022