Thread by @SAgovnews

Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla and Deputy Minister of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, are expected to convene an urgent virtual media briefing at 1pm on the latest developments around #COVID19 vaccination programme.

Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla: Over the last few days, there has been more of an exponential rise in #COVID19 cases. As of yesterday, we passed the 1000 mark in new cases. The bigger number of positive cases was in GP, as of Wed at least 80% of cases cases were in GP...

Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla: Within Gauteng, Tshwane accounts for the majority of new cases. Initially it looked like the spike in cases was caused by cluster outbreaks, universities and gatherings. As of yesterday, the indication is that there is a new variant #COVID19

Professor Tulio de Oliveira: Unfortunately, we have detected a new variant, which is a reason for concern in SA. The variant has a very high number of mutations #COVID19

Professor Tulio de Oliveira: Vaccines remain a critical tool to protect us from server disease #COVID19. Timeline of discovery of new variant

Professor Tulio de Oliveira: It is very clear from the data that various parts of Gauteng show a fast increase of infection with a sustainable increase first seen in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng & West Rand #COVID19

Professor Tulio de Oliveira: With this variant there is a very unusual constellations of mutations – multiple mutations across SARS-CoV-2 genome. The mutation profile is different from the others in circulation #COVID19

Richard Lessells: What concerns us is that this variant might not just have enhanced transmissibility but the ability to spread more efficiently and might also be able to get around to parts of the immune system #COVID19SA #COVID19

Richard Lessells: One of the features of this variant is that it can detected with one particular PCR essay (before whole genome sequencing). The variant is rapidly increasing in most provinces. The variant may be circulating widely in the country #COVID19 #COVID19SA

Richard Lessells: There is now lots of different strands of epidemiological data that are suggesting a sustained increase in #COVID19 cases across Gauteng, possibly fueled by cluster outbreak – summary of the new variant

Professor Tulio de Oliveira: This variant did surprise us and it has many more mutations than expected. It is spreading very fast and we expect to see pressure in the healthcare system in the next few days and weeks #COVID19SA #COVID19SA

Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla: we will be engaging Cabinet, Premiers and the National Corona Virus Command Council on the new variant. It is too early to predict if further restrictions will be implemented #COVID19 #COVID19SA

Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla: We know that if more people are vaccinated we can limit the number of mutations… there’s less uptake from the 18-35 cohort with 26% being vaccinated. We are worried as this outbreak affects young people #COVID19 #COVID19SA

Richard Lessells: The key thing that we are looking to see in the next few days is around the severity of the cases. Often at the beginning of a resurgence we sometimes get fooled into thinking that everything is a milder disease #COVID19 #COVID19SA

Full details on the media briefing on the latest developments around #COVID19 vaccination programme to follow on sanews.gov.za #COVID19SA

[Read] @HealthZA Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has confirmed that a new COVID-19 variant has been detected in South Africa tinyurl.com/8pf6hv4v #COVID19