South Africa says it may be entering 5th COVID wave

South Africa April 29 Hindustan Times - South Africa may be entering a 5th COVID-19 wave earlier than expected after a sustained rise in infections over the past 14 days that seems to be driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants, health officials and scientists said on Friday.   

The country that has recorded the most corona virus cases and deaths on the African continent only exited a 4th wave around January and had predicted a 5th wave could start in May or June, early in the southern hemisphere winter.   

Health Minister Joe Phaahla told a briefing that hospitalizations in the country were picking up. . 

 
South Africa has reported more than 3.7 million COVID cases and over 100,000 deaths during the pandemic. On Thursday, the WHO’s Africa office flagged the rise in South Africa’s infections as the main driver of an uptick on the African continent.