LIMIT THE RISK OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION BY AVOIDING SUPER SPREADER EVENTS
30 November 2021
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a division of the National Health Laboratory Service, continues to monitor developments around the newly emerged Omicron variant. “The number of new COVID-19 cases and the percent positivity continue to increase, likely due to spread of the Omicron variant.
At this stage, scientists are trying to establish if this new variant has increased transmissibility (ability to spread) and/or developed ways to escape some of our immune responses,” says NICD Acting Executive Director, Prof Adrian Puren. He adds however, that the severity of Omicron is yet to be determined and urges members of the public to be cautious and to reconsider attending events that may become super spreader events, such as indoor gatherings in poorly ventilated spaces or large gatherings.
Dr Michelle Groome, Head of the Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response at the NICD agrees that responsible actions and adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions are key to limiting the impact of a fourth wave. “If individuals remain steadfast in implementing physical and social distancing, and by wearing their masks, transmission of the disease and ultimately the negative impact on our health sector will be lessened. COVID-19 vaccination remains key, and anyone over the age of 12-years who chooses to vaccinate, is encouraged to follow through and join those who have already rolled up their sleeves.”
Dr Groome concludes by saying that if anyone experiences COVID-like symptoms, that they should self-quarantine and monitor their symptoms for at least 10-days. “During the 10-day period you should avoid contact with others, continue to wear your mask and wash your hands often. Should any worrisome symptoms present, we recommend contacting your healthcare provider for assistance.”
To find out more about what to do if you think you have contracted COVID-19, click here.
***
LATEST CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH AFRICA (30 NOVEMBER 2021)
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a division of the National Health Laboratory Service, continues to provide laboratory-based surveillance to inform the public health response towards COVID-19 in South Africa.
Today the institute reports 4,373 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2,968,052. This increase represents a 10.2% positivity rate.
As per the National Department of Health, a further 21 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 89,843 to date.
19,477,054 tests have been conducted in both public and private sectors as per the table below.
|
Sector |
Total tested |
New tested |
||
|
Private |
10,458,181 |
53.7% |
21,647 |
50.7% |
|
Public |
9,018,873 |
46.3% |
21,017 |
49.3% |
|
Total |
19,477,054 |
100.0% |
42,664 |
100.0% |
PROVINCIAL BREAKDOWN
The majority of new cases today are from Gauteng (72%), followed by Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, each accounting for 6%. Limpopo and North West accounted for 5% respectively; Mpumalanga 3%, Free State 2% and Eastern Cape 1%. Northern Cape accounted for less than 1% of today’s new cases.
The cumulative number of cases by province is shown in the table below:
|
Province |
Total cases for 29 November 2021 |
Adjusted numbers after harmonisation |
Updated total cases on 29 November 2021 |
New cases on 30 November 2021 |
Total cases for 30 November 2021 |
Percentage total |
|
Eastern Cape |
293,174 |
0 |
293,174 |
65 |
293,239 |
9.9 |
|
Free State |
165,527 |
0 |
165,527 |
70 |
165,597 |
5.6 |
|
Gauteng |
943,720 |
0 |
943,720 |
3,143 |
946,863 |
31.9 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
518,332 |
0 |
518,332 |
259 |
518,591 |
17.5 |
|
Limpopo |
123,506 |
0 |
123,506 |
204 |
123,710 |
4.2 |
|
Mpumalanga |
153,836 |
0 |
153,836 |
139 |
153,975 |
5.2 |
|
North West |
154,090 |
0 |
154,090 |
200 |
154,290 |
5.2 |
|
Northern Cape |
93,325 |
0 |
93,325 |
18 |
93,343 |
3.1 |
|
Western Cape |
518,169 |
0 |
518,169 |
275 |
518,444 |
17.5 |
|
Total |
2,963,679 |
0 |
2,963,679 |
4,373 |
2,968,052 |
100.0 |
THE 7-DAY MOVING AVERAGE NUMBER OF NEW CASES BY PROVINCE
The proportion of positive new cases/total new tested today is 10.2% which is lower than yesterday (10.7%). The 7-day average is 8.5% today, which is higher than yesterday (7.3%)
For more detailed information, visit the GIS Dashboard.
HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS
There has been an increase of 119 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours. The following table is a summary of reported COVID-19 admissions by sector.
|
Sector |
Facilities Reporting |
Admissions |
Died to Date |
Currently Admitted |
|
Private |
258 |
201,249 |
37,357 |
1,323 |
|
Public |
407 |
236,639 |
57,227 |
1,091 |
|
TOTAL |
665 |
437,888 |
94,584 |
2,414 |
VACCINE UPDATE
For updates on the national vaccine programme, click here.
Thank you for your interest and remember that adhering to the following preventative measures helps to limit your risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
- Getting vaccinated for COVID-19
- Wearing your mask properly to cover your nose
- Opting to gather in ventilated spaces
- Avoid unnecessary gatherings
- Keeping a social distance of one meter or more
- Washing your hands regularly in the day with soap and water
For more information on COVID-19, click here.
Issued by Sinenhlanhla Jimoh, Senior Communications Manager, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, 30 November 2021
