Thread by @DrZweliMkhize

Mkhize: It is important to reiterate that while this mutation is a cause for concern there is no reason to panic. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

Mkhize: Nothing will beat the rigid implementation of wearing of masks use of hand sanitizer and washing with soap and distancing. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

Mkhize: There is no evidence to suggest a need to change in clinical treatment and patient management of #COVID19 in the second wave to date. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

This research underlines the need for all of us all to loyally adhere to the practice of Non pharmaceutical interventions which work as effectively in any pandemic of this nature including #COVID19 as we have known it and is just as effective to a mutant variant of the same virus

Mkhize: This discovery does not necessitate additional measures. There will be no basis to change purely based on this report.#SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

Reports based on surveillance and intensive monitoring continues to guide our response which is driven by science.We will declare new districts as hotspots as they reach the threshold and continue to monitor how these increases impact on our health service and health care workers

There will also be further research to ascertain if the current vaccines be effective on the new variant— we shall continue with the vaccine program as there is no evidence to do otherwise and scientific research will clarify that. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

Before that happens there is no new action needed and no evidence to change the approach. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

Last week I made an announcement that we have entered into our second wave and that it is mostly young people who are testing positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks: this continues to be the case. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

Our clinicians have also warned us that things have changed and that young, previously healthy people are now becoming very sick. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

Our youth are not wearing masks and are clearly so intoxicated that they have thrown caution to the wind and do not care to observe the rules under the state of disaster. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing

It cannot be that our youth can only adhere to lifesaving measures by being policed. We call on parents, caregivers and our youth to understand that this is now not just a matter of thinking about others but you yourselves are now equally at risk of dying from COVID-19.

Our message out of this variant; This situation can be contained depending how well we adhere to behavioural changes such as mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing and sanitising.

We cannot go through what we went through in the early days of the AIDS pandemic when mothers and grandmothers were burying their children- this is the most heartbreaking phenomenon. The youth is urged to take care and find alternative ways of having safe fun this festive season.

The youth is urged to take care and find alternative ways of having safe fun this festive season.