Reuters: South Africa's daily increase in more than 10,000 confirmed cases of the new crown virus Experts are worried that the fifth wave of the epidemic is beginning to break out
JOHANNESBURG, May 11, May 12 (Reuters) - South Africa's National Institute for Confective Diseases reported 10,017 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the first time the institute has reported more than 10,000 new infections in a single day since January.
Health authorities have warned that South Africa may be entering a fifth wave of infections driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants.
South Africa has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths on the continent, while the fourth wave of infections only broke out in January this year. Experts predict that the fifth wave could begin within a few months of the southern hemisphere's winter months, sometime in May or June.
Less than 50 percent of South Africa's roughly 40 million adult population has at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 45% of adults have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The pace of vaccination has slowed in recent months, with officials warning that vaccinations are at risk of being discarded. In South Africa, vaccination was hampered initially by difficulties in obtaining early vaccine supplies, but then by hesitation.
The report is titled "S.Africa's new COVID cases cross 10,000 for first time since January" (South Africa has seen more than 10,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases for the first time since January).
