Mkhize: Teens showing highest number of Covid-19 cases
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says teenagers currently account for the highest number of new Covid-19 infections.
People between the ages of 15 and 19 showed the highest number of cases over the past two days.
Mkhize revealed the latest surge in the stats on Wednesday during a national update.
The country recorded close to 7 000 new infections and 135 fatalities.
“In the last two days the age distribution of new cases showed a different pattern from the norm: the peak age in this period is in the 15-19 age group.
“This is believed to be due to large number of parties involving young people drinking alcohol with no adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions, that is wearing of masks, social distancing and hand and surface sanitizing,” he said.
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In the past 24-hour cycle South Africa recorded 6709 new cases, bringing the cumulative total to 828 598. The death toll has also rise to 22 574 after 135 new fatalities were recorded. Recoveries still stand firm at approximately 91%. Mkhize further warned of complacency during the festive season.
At the start of the week, one of the country’s most popular end-of-year events for matric pupils was put on hold after the Matric Rage 2020 resulted in a number of Covid-19 infections.
The KwaZulu-Natal leg has since been classified a super-spreader event.
“This inevitably leads to super-spreader events which spill over into the rest of the country as this age group is highly mobile and the majority of the carriers are asymptomatic.
“If this trajectory continues our healthcare system will be overwhelmed by the numbers. Hence part of the recommendations that are being tabled by provinces themselves is that large gatherings and parties must be urgently curtailed,” he added.
At least 92 cases had earlier been identified from the event, causing both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to begin tracing hundreds of pupils who were in attendance.
