Thread by @miamalan

[Thread] 1. LATEST on #COVID19SA cases:
1. There was a 46% increase in new cases when the weeks of April 26th + May 3rd are compared.
2. Cases in all provinces increased in the last 7 days:
- Northern Cape: 68%
- Gauteng: 63%
- Limpopo: 47%
- North West: 42%
- Western Cape: 39%

2. #Covid19SA deaths increased by:
* 18.22% when the weeks of April 26th and May 3 are compared
* But when the last 14 days are compared, deaths decreased by about 30%
* KZN and the Western Cape account for 8 out of every 10 reported deaths

3. What about #HealthWorkers?
- They constitute 3.51% of all reported #COVID19SA cases
- Since the start of the pandemic, just over 56 000 have tested positive (there were 25 cases in the past 7 days)
- 874 health workers have died (1.56% of all cases)

4. Are we in a #COVID19SA third wave? Not yet, although some districts are fast approaching the threshold for a third wave.

5. What will drive a third #COVID19SA wave?
1. New variants
2. People not wearing masks, washing hands or social distancing
(Slow vaccination would, of course, also play a role)

6. What do we need to get ready to cope with a 3rd #COVID19SA wave?
1. Enough hospitals beds
2. Oxygen + ventilators
3. Enough #HealthWorkers + PPE to protect them
4. The ability to trace contacts of cases
5. Enough tests
(We also need to vaccinate people as fast as we can)