SA could see fifth Covid wave in May, says Phaahla
Health Minister Joe Phaahla believes South Africa is likely to enter the fifth wave of Covid-19 infections in the middle of May.
Phaahla was speaking to SABC News on Thursday morning.
A week ago, the minister told the media that Gauteng had officially exited the fourth wave, while the remaining eight provinces reached their peak.
Covid-19 infections, driven mainly by the Omicron variant, have shown an overall decline over the past few weeks.
But Phaahla warned that a new variant could see the fourth wave reaching our shores earlier than expected.
“If there is no variant of serious concern very soon, we definitely would expect a wave somewhere around May when the winter starts. That’s when people start to congregate indoors because of cold weather and it is when the flu season also start.
“We expect that possibly middle to the end of May, that’s when we expect the next wave. It might come earlier just like we have seen next year.”
He says the Health Department is still waiting for scientists’ advice on the vaccination of children below the age of 12.
“We depend on our scientists, We have the ministerial advisory committee on vaccination, they look at the information available and they advise to the manufacturers. If they are convinced in terms of science, and the safety of the vaccine and as they learn from other countries if it is safe and necessary.”
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