{"id":208237,"date":"2021-11-12T10:33:01","date_gmt":"2021-11-12T08:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/no-covid-19-infection-spike-after-elections-period\/"},"modified":"2021-11-12T10:33:01","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T08:33:01","slug":"no-covid-19-infection-spike-after-elections-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/no-covid-19-infection-spike-after-elections-period\/","title":{"rendered":"No COVID-19 infection spike after elections period"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says the country did not experience any spikes in COVID-19 infections following the various election campaigns and Election Day.<\/p>\n

The Minister was briefing the nation on Friday morning on the country\u2019s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the department’s vaccination plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThus far, 11 days after the election campaign and also\u2026voting day, we have not experienced any super spreader side effects after the campaigns and the election day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were assured by the IEC [Independent Electoral Commission] about the [health related] preparations for the elections but we were concerned about the safety of campaigns by political parties but thus far, not a single district or a province has shown signs of a spike in COVID-19 infections,\u201d Phaahla said.<\/p>\n

The Minister added that the department and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) continue to keep a close eye on any potential spikes.<\/p>\n

Four week steadiness<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Minister Phaahla, infection rates and hospitalisations have remained stable with daily infections ranging between 200 and 500.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe positivity rate has also remained at an average of 1%. As of [Thursday] we still had relatively high 16 000 cases but quite a reduced number compared to the peak of the third wave. Patients in hospital remain high although again, lower than at the peak\u2026just over 3000 patients in hospital with just over 270 in high care and just over 400 in ICUs with around 164 on ventilation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Health Minister said the fatality rate has also come down with reported deaths over the last 24 hours reaching 17 \u2013 considerably lower than the at least 300 per day reported during the peak of the third wave.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut of course, we feel that 17 deaths from COVID is still one too many so at the end we would want to see a situation where nobody dies from this pandemic,\u201d Phaahla said.<\/p>\n

Fourth wave warning<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Phaahla warned that although COVID-19 related statistics remain low, the existence of the virus remains and it is \u201cstill causing a lot of harm\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cA resurgence of infections which will introduce a fourth wave is expected as we can see in other countries \u2013 especially in some parts of Europe. Our national team is working with provincial teams to prepare for the inevitable fourth wave. We have to do everything possible to make sure we can delay it and make sure that even when it comes, it must have far less impact,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Minister assured that health facilities are gearing up to:<\/p>\n