DURBAN - WITH the onset of winter, CEO of Higher Heath Professor Ramneek Ahluwalia has urged all students and staff in the education sector to adhere to Covid-19 regulations as the positivity rate of cases continues to rise.
Higher Heath is an organisation that safeguards the health of South African students and youth.
In a statement issued by the organisation, Ahluwalia said the positivity rate of Covid-19 has increased by about 25% – the country is recording approximately 10 000 new daily cases.
“We continue to monitor infection trends and emerging Covid variants. It is likely that a 5th wave with an even steeper rise in infections looms the closer we get to winter," he said.
Higher Health urged the public to be on the lookout for common symptoms associated with the current Covid-19 Omicron sub variants which are sneezing, sore throat, cough and fatigue. If a person notices any of these symptoms they must seek medical attention immediately and self-isolate if they test positive.
Ahluwalia also reiterated that people should wear masks at all times indoors and continue with the daily use of Covid-19 screening tools at workplaces and home.
He added that Covid-19 vaccinations had been proven not only to reduce the severity of disease and risk of death but also prevent the spread of infection.
The World Health Organisation said last week that Southern Africa is facing an upsurge in Covid-19 cases as the winter season approaches.
“The increase is largely driven by a spike in South Africa, where weekly recorded cases have quadrupled in the past three weeks. Deaths have, however, not climbed as quickly. South Africa recorded 376 deaths in the past three weeks, twice as many compared with the previous three weeks,” the WHO said.
Although cases have risen, hospitalisation in South Africa remains low, with the number of patients currently admitted testing positive for Covid-19 at around 20% of the late December 2021 peak, it said.
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