Daily Covid-19 update: The total number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa is now 1 608 393. 112 new deaths bring the total death rate to 55 124, while the number of recoveries is at 1 522 165.

Gauteng officially in third Covid-19 wave

There has been a 46% increase in new Covid-19 cases, with Covid-19 deaths in the same period increasing by 18%. Premier David Makhura has announced that Gauteng is officially in a third Covid-19 wave. Makhura made the announcement on Friday in the West Rand while officially unveiling the 181-bed AngloGold Ashanti Hospital.

Read more on The Citizen.

South Africa has not entered a new wave

Nationally, South Africa has not met the threshold for a new wave. According to a Ministerial Advisory Committee Technical Working Group, a resurgence occurs when the seven-day moving average incidence exceeds 30% of the previous wave’s peak.

Read the NICD report.

Mental illnesses increase due to impact of Covid-19

An increase in the acuity levels of mental illness since October last year was observed and experienced by Vista Clinic, Centurion. According to Vista CEO Francois Louw, the increase was ‘progressive and significant’.

Read more on Rekord.

Authorities implored to recommend Ivermectin for treatment of Covid-19

Civil rights organisation AfriForum and the ‘I can make a difference’ group of doctors have sent an urgent letter to various health authorities, imploring them to recommend Ivermectin for the treatment of Covid-19. This came in the light of evidence indicating that the next wave of Covid-19 infections had started in South Africa, said AfriForum.

Read more on African Reporter.

‘Employers hide test results of Covid-positive health workers’ – Nehawu

In a statement on Thursday, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) expressed scepticism over the reported number (25) of new cases of healthcare workers who had tested positive for Covid-19.

Read more on The Citizen.

Covid-19 variant first detected in India one of two new variants confirmed in SA

The Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) confirmed on May 8 that two Covid-19 variants of concern, other than the B.1.351 already dominating in South Africa, have been detected.

Read more on Krugersdorp News.

Govt extends national state of disaster until June 15

Cabinet has approved another extension of the national state of disaster until June 15. This follows a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, at which various issues, including the country’s Covid-19 response and vaccine roll-out programme, were discussed.

Read more on The Citizen.