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8,700 COVID-19 infections reported within 24 hours in South Africa amid lockdown easing

South Africa reported its largest single-day jump in coronavirus cases.
The nation’s complete count to 168,061, whereas deaths rose by 95 to 2,844.
Officers contemplating reimposing some restrictions to attempt to slow the quickening spread of the virus.

South Africa reported its largest single-day jump in coronavirus cases, as hospitals throughout the nation brace for an onslaught of patients and officials warn of another strict lockdown.

More than 8,700 infections confirmed on Thursday, taking the nation’s complete count to 168,061, based on health ministry data, whereas deaths rose by 95 to 2,844.

The surge comes as the federal government allowed businesses to reopen in current weeks to stave off economic catastrophe after a strict two-month stay-at-home order worsened already high unemployment and drastically increased starvation.

In Johannesburg, the biggest metropolis, officers contemplating reimposing some restrictions to attempt to slow the quickening spread of the virus.

“We’re seeing a spike in infections in Johannesburg. The number of people that we are diagnosing on a daily basis now is absolutely frightening,” stated Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand, leading a vaccine trial in South Africa in cooperation with the United Kingdom’s University of Oxford.

Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize stated the federal government might impose another strict lockdown if coronavirus infections and deaths continued to rise.

“If, in the future, there is a need for another lockdown, we will not hesitate to go that route. Right now, there is no such a decision taken,” Mkhize told broadcaster talk Radio 702 on Wednesday.

On the end of March, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa announced one of many hardest lockdowns anywhere on the planet, banning anybody but essential employees from leaving house besides to purchase meals or drugs. On the time, South Africa recorded just 400 cases.

Sales of alcohol and cigarettes banned, whereas residents additionally restricted from exercising outside their houses or going to places of worship.

The nation started slowly reopening parts of the economy from May and once more in June however infections have began to spike once more.