Second wave of Covid-19 is highly unlikely, according to experts

- Health experts say that it is unlikely that Mzansi will have a second wave of Covid-19 in the year 2020

- South Africans are being urged to change their behaviour and continue wearing masks to fight the spread of the virus

- Experts say that instead of enforcing harsher lockdown conditions, we should learn to live with the virus instead

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There has been a growing concern over a possible second wave of Covid-19 in Mzansi. Experts say that it is highly unlikely that a second wave will happen this year. Health experts have urged South Africans to change their behaviour and avoid events that will contribute to the spread of the virus.

This is because positive cases are still on the rise, especially in the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces.

Chairperson of social security systems administration and management studies at Wits University, Professor Alex van den Heever has said that South Africa was unlikely to face a second wave of the virus.

"We are likely to see a resurgence going into winter next year. We are unlikely to see a significant resurgence before then," he said.

Van den Heever also expressed that it is also unlikely that South Africa will go back to a harsher lockdown. He said that citizens should continue wearing face masks and avoiding large social gatherings.

“Because of the prolonged nature of the pandemic we have to live with the virus rather than assume we can defeat it with extensive lockdowns."

Another expert, Dr. Marvin Hsiao from the division of medical virology at UCT said that it was hard to predict if there would be a second wave of COVID-19.

“It is likely we will see a resurgence of infection in the future and it is just a matter of how many people become affected," said Hsiao.

In other news, Briefly.co.za previously reported that the Gauteng province has recorded a decline in Covid-19 hospitalisations. Gauteng is still the province with the highest Covid-19 infections. Johannesburg is the worst affected city with 90 864 cases and 1 777 deaths. A total of 1 868 people are currently hospitalised with the virus in public and private hospitals across the Gauteng province.

The Gauteng health department expressed that there had been a decrease in hospital admissions in the province in a statement. The command council of the province has said that out of the admitted patients, 448 were in intensive care and high care and 1 420 were in general wards.

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Source: Briefly News