Health and government officials have warned about a spike in Covid-19 cases in South Africa, and the possible reintroduction of harder lockdown restrictions.

KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala said that a return to a hard lockdown is on the cards, unless the country sees a decline in the number of daily coronavirus cases.

“Looking at the statistics, we can now safely say that we are definitely going back into a hard lockdown if there is no urgent and drastic change in behaviour,” said Zikalala in a media briefing on Sunday.

He said that a second wave of Covid-19 will be ‘stronger and deadlier’ – not only in deaths, but also in terms of economic hardship. “There is no use in chasing profits today, only to be shut down by a hard lockdown tomorrow,” he said.

The premier pointed to “reckless trading in alcohol” which has the “potential to derail all the progress we have made in preparing our healthcare system for a potential onslaught of Covid-19”.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation this week about the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the SABC reported.

South Africa reported 1,622 new cases on Sunday (25 October), taking the total reported cases to 715,868.

Deaths have reached 18,960 (a daily increase of 16), while recoveries have climbed to 646,170, leaving the country with a balance of 50,738 active cases.

Zikalala’s comments come after health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said that he is concerned about an apparent spike in coronavirus cases.

Darul Ihsan Media Desk