This is according to the observation of Tzaneen medical practitioner, Dr. Ig van Rensburg who told the Herald that as seen during the first and second waves, Limpopo lagged about two weeks behind Gauteng.

“Therefore we still saw an increase in cases while Gauteng started to experience a decrease. Luckily we have seen a decline in numbers during the past few days.”

He said his experience was that there were more cases than in the second wave, many of them being young people.

“Family outbreaks where all members of a family tested positive, including children.

There were fewer hospitalizations and more patients treated at home. Immunizations also played a role here.”

He added that people who were previously vaccinated and contracted the virus definitely were less sick and required less hospitalization.

Speaking on capacity and the impact of the alcohol ban being lifted, Van Rensburg said while the purpose of the alcohol ban was to prevent people from gathering in masses, which had this positive effect, the main purpose was to reduce trauma cases including motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and gender-based violence.

“During the prohibition of alcohol sales, there was a marked decline in these cases. This enabled us to have more resources available for Covid patients. Luckily we never experienced a shortage of general beds during this wave but experienced a severe shortage of ICU and high care beds. At the same time, the rest of the country also experienced a shortage of beds and was it impossible to find ICU beds for patients anywhere. Where we could find beds, we transferred patients to Gauteng hospitals.”

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He said from midweek last week the pressure seemed to have eased up with ICU beds being available for the first time in eight weeks.

Van Rensburg added that human behaviour was the single most important factor that would determine how the virus would affect us going forward and if there will be further major increases in cases (waves).

“If people are not continuously aware of practising preventative measures and do not get vaccinated, we will experience a wave every few months.”

He said there was still a concern on where people get their information on treatment and vaccines when there is so much scientific information out there.

“If your car breaks down, you call a mechanic. If you have a legal problem, you call a lawyer. If your geyser bursts, you call a plumber.

But if you get Covid, you go to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, friends, family and who knows what else to get advice and treatment from laymen and use all kinds of unproven concoctions. What about simply calling or seeing your doctor?“ “People are dying from Ivermectin and still patients demand it when they test positive.”

He said scientific evidence has proved the efficacy and safety of vaccines, but still, people believe the social media posts they read.

“It must also be remembered that when dealing with a public health crisis like Covid, public interest comes first above individual interests and rights.“ Refusing vaccination is not only detrimental to the individual but selfish and detrimental to the community at large.

“The quicker we can achieve herd immunity the better for the entire world,” said Van Rensburg.