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South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says new research estimates 12 million people – about 20% of the country’s population – could already have been infected with Coronavirus.
This is much higher than the official cumulative number of detected Covid-19 cases which is 650,749.
The research is based on examining seroprevalence – the amount of antibodies present in a patient’s bloodstream.
In a statement released on Monday night, Dr Mkhize said a decline in cases has raised questions of what level of immunity might exist in the country.
He explained initial samples “have shown seroprevalence of between 29 and 40%.”
A national seroprevalence study is now underway.
Vaccinologist and member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee, Professor Shabir Madhi, says the true number of infections may be even higher.
He estimates between 35% and 40% of South Africans in densely populated areas could already have been infected, pushing the possible number of infections as high as 20 million.
During the spike in July, between 10,000 and 15,000 new cases were reported daily. However, the number of new cases has dropped from about 12,000 per day in July to fewer than 2,000.
The death toll is 15,499, while the recovery rate remains high at 88.9%.
From 20 September an overnight curfew will be reduced, gatherings will be allowed at 50 percent of a venue’s capacity, and restrictions on the sale of alcohol will be eased.
“We have withstood the coronavirus storm,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa.
But rules on social distancing and mask-wearing will remain in place.-BBC News.
Online Reporter