Thread by @ewnreporter

#COVID19 Health department confirms that 2 variants of concern, other than the B.1.351 already dominating in South Africa, have been detected in SA. These are: B.1.1.7 (first detected in the UK) = 11 cases. B.1.617.2 (first detected in India)= 4 cases. ML

#COVID19 The four cases of B.1.617.2 have been detected in Gauteng (2) and KwaZulu-Natal (2) and all have a history of recent arrival from India. ML

#COVID19 Health department: All cases have been isolated and managed according to national COVID-19 case management guidelines and contact tracing has been performed in order to limit the spread of this variant. ML

#COVID19 Of the eleven cases of B.1.1.7, eight were detected in the Western Cape (with two having a history of travel from Bahrain), one was detected in KwaZulu- Natal and two were detected in Gauteng. ML

#COVID19 Health minister Zweli Mkhize: “We reiterate that there is no need for panic, as the fundamentals of the public health response (testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine) have not changed.” ML

#COVID19 Mkhize: Travel restrictions will need to be balanced against the scientific realities to protect the economy. The findings are urgently being processed and announcements on travel regulations will be made after all consultations have been undertaken by cabinet. ML