Covid cases jump 60pc in a week

The daily coronavirus infections have increased by 60 percent this week compared to the last.

Robed Amin, spokesperson for the Directorate General of Health Services, yesterday made the comment at a virtual press briefing.

He urged everyone to take coronavirus vaccines to keep themselves protected from the virus.

Around 82 percent of the 91 people who died of coronavirus infections in December were not vaccinated, mentioned a DGHS press release.

It is believed that the booster doses are effective against the Omicron variant and the doses increase the level of antibody to fight the virus, Robed Amin said.

Meanwhile, the number of new cases and positivity rate increased in the 24 hours ending at 8:00am yesterday.

The DGHS reported 557 cases, up from 370 the previous day.

Against 19,130 tests, the positivity rate was 2.9 percent, up from 2.4 percent the previous day.

On the other hand, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 has decreased. The DGHS reported one death whereas it was four the previous day.

The country registered 28,077 deaths so far.

At the briefing, Robed Amin yesterday said, "Face masks should be tight-fitting."

He urged everyone to properly wear medical-grade face masks.

Referring to the transmission trend from around the world, including South Africa, he said that the Omicron variant was infecting women more than men.

First reported in South Africa on November 18 last year, the fifth variant of coronavirus drove Covid-19 cases to record highs in Europe and the United States, with the daily global case count surpassing a million for the first time at the end of December.

The South African government, meanwhile, said on Thursday said that data from its health department suggested that the country had passed its Omicron peak without a major spike in deaths, offering cautious hope to other countries grappling with the variant.