There is a new wave of covid 19 in South Africa, the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) warned on Tuesday.
"The fifth wave has arrived. Take care," the genomics research centre headed by virologist Tulio de Oliveira, who became famous for spotting the Beta and Omicron variants, warned on Twitter.
South Africa is officially the continent's most affected country by Covid 19.
The number of new infections in the last 24 hours is still up compared to the last few days, with 5,062 cases, 15 deaths and 83 hospitalizations, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).
With a ratio of 6.3 new cases per 100,000 population and a positivity rate of over 10% (16.9%), "based on previous waves, these are thresholds indicating a continued increase," Ridhwaan Suliman, a researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a government research institute, added on Twitter.
The figures recorded in recent days are the highest in nearly three months and significantly higher than a fortnight ago.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla had already expressed his "concern" last week.
In early March, the country went 48 hours without a single Covid-19-related death, the first time this had happened since 2020. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in early April that all legal restrictions related to the pandemic had been lifted.
The last wave of the disease resulted in greater transmission of the virus but fewer severe cases.
South Africa, where less than 45% of the adult population is fully vaccinated out of a population of nearly 60 million, has recorded more than 3.7 million cases and some 100,350 deaths in accumulation.
-Africa News
Central Africa
Ebola vaccination begins in DRC after two deaths
The Democratic Republic of Congo has begun vaccinating its citizens against ebola after two deaths w...
Southern Africa
South Africa’s Ramaphosa pledges improved conditions after May day incident
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to improve conditions for the middle and poor cl...
Economy
Central African Republic adopts bitcoin as legal tender
The Central African Republic has adopted bitcoin as its official currency alongside the CFA franc. T...
East Africa
Somalia elects speaker, paves way for presidential vote
Somalia's parliament elected a veteran politician as speaker of the lower house in a drawn-out proce...
West Africa
Mali's junta breaks off from defence accords with France
Mali's ruling junta announced on Monday it was breaking off from its defence accords with former col...
Mining
Lucapa diamond sales exceed A$13mln in 2021
ASX-listed Lucapa Diamond says diamond sales from both Lulo and Mothae mines in Angola and Lesotho, ...
North Africa
Tunisian opposition announces new alliance
A veteran left-wing Tunisian politician announced the creation a new alliance aimed at restoring con...
Business
Africa's first Covid vaccine plant risks closure after no orders
Africa's first Covid-19 vaccination plant risks shutting down after receiving not a single order, a ...
Opinion
South Africa stares at an acute housing crisis following recent floods
South Africa is staring at an acute housing crisis, especially in the two provinces where deadly flo...