South Africa passed another grim Covid-19 milestone on Monday, as it surpassed the 100,000 mark for confirmed infections. This is less than three months since the first recorded death.

However, according to Prof Salim Abdool Karim, a leading clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist and government adviser, this was “more or less” where experts predicted it would be in its fight against the pandemic.

SA recorded its first confirmed case on March 5, when a 38-year-old male who travelled to Italy with his wife tested positive. Less than a month later, on March 27, two deaths were reported - the first fatalities from the respiratory illness.

Since then, with the Western Cape (Cape Town) as the epicentre, SA had recorded 1,991 deaths and 101,590 confirmed cases of the illness, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Monday night. There have been 53, 444 recoveries.

The climb to 100,000 cases has been dramatic.

On June 1, SA had 34,357 cases. By Sunday, just three weeks later, this had increased to 97,302 cases - and then increased by 4,289 cases to the 101,590 announced by Mkhize on Monday night.

However, Abdool Karim said the situation in SA was as expected.

Abdool Karim said when the government implemented lockdown regulations on March 26, they were able to slow the spread of the virus "substantially" - but this has changed as the country has moved to lower Alert levels.

“As we reached the tail-end of the level 5 restrictions (the highest Alert level), we started seeing some small outbreaks in the supermarkets [and] grocery stores in the Western Cape,” he said.

As the Western Cape remains the epicentre of the virus with 52,554 of the total infections and 1,458 of the deaths by Monday night, Abdool Karim said the province had reached a “fully fledged” epidemic.

Other African Countries

On Monday Egypt had the second largest coronavirus tally on the continent at 56,809 followed by Nigeria at 20,919 cases.

Wao. 100k already. Naija just clocked 20k though its likely more. Two people i know are infected

And there are peeps who still dont believe COVID is real.

micfoley:
Wao. 100k already. Naija just clocked 20k though its likely more. Two people i know are infected

And there are peeps who still dont believe COVID is real.

At this point it's 'na you get yourself oh'

The rest of the year is gonna be something

micfoley:
Wao. 100k already. Naija just clocked 20k though its likely more. Two people i know are infected

And there are peeps who still dont believe COVID is real.

Yeah, I also don't know any infected people around me here in SA but a famous News anchor today revealed he's got it. So it's hitting home.

SirWarlock:
The rest of the year is gonna be something

Especially coz no African country has peaked yet.

TMKsouth:


Especially coz no African country has peaked yet.

Will we ever? I mean from the look of things South Africa, Ghana and Egypt seem to be only African countries carrying out mass tests and more likely to reach peak. The continent could still be held down by the rest

SirWarlock:
Will we ever? I mean from the look of things South Africa, Ghana and Egypt seem to be only African countries carrying out mass tests and more likely to reach peak. The continent could still be held down by the rest

I also can't understand why everyone else doesn't wanna test. Logic informs us the more you test the clearer the picture becomes. This is a clear example of bad leadership.

TMKsouth:


I also can't understand why everyone else doesn't wanna test. Logic informs us the more you test the clearer the picture becomes. This is a clear example of bad leadership.

Well probably because of the level of health security before covid. You can't just turn it around overnight i guess. Or another guess would be the 'it's not for africa' rhetoric or probably the cost of testing and controlling the spread.

SirWarlock:
Well probably because of the level of health security before covid. You can't just turn it around overnight i guess. Or another guess would be the 'it's not for africa' rhetoric or probably the cost of testing and controlling the spread.

Yep. But the cost factor shouldn't be an issue. For example, in SA, funds were reprioritised from sectors that had shut due to the LOCKDOWN such as schools and sports towards fighting covid. So the money is there.

Burundi's own president held elections during the pandemic and refused to implement a LOCKDOWN - today he's dead because of Covid. Your own Chief-of-Staff succumbed to the virus too. So this whole "it's unafrican" thing is stupid. Most cases in SA and America are of black people. Our governments and citizens should wise up.

Lots of testing

TMKsouth:


Yep. But the cost factor shouldn't be an issue. For example, in SA, funds were reprioritised from sectors that had shut due to the LOCKDOWN such as schools and sports towards fighting covid. So the money is there.

Burundi's own president held elections during the pandemic and refused to implement a LOCKDOWN - today he's dead because of Covid. Your own Chief-of-Staff succumbed to the virus too. So this whole "it's unafrican" thing is stupid. Most cases in SA and America are of black people. Our governments and citizens should wise up.

The world has shifted to natural selection now. Here in Nigeria it's now back to business as usual . If not for the fact that someone contracting could directly affect you, I would say Government should also pretend there's no covid and reopen everything up . Cos there's nothing changing our psyche, not today, not tomorrow.

SirWarlock:
The world has shifted to natural selection now. Here in Nigeria it's now back to business as usual . If not for the fact that someone contracting could directly affect you, I would say Government should also pretend there's no covid and reopen everything up . Cos there's nothing changing our psyche, not today, not tomorrow.

Yeah everyone is less scared of covid now, but governments should still insist on masks, social distancing and washing hands. Otherwise people are gonna die in droves here coz our health systems can't handle it. But maybe that's what we need to open our eyes.

TMKsouth:


Yeah, I also don't know any infected people around me here in SA but a famous News anchor today revealed he's got it. So it's hitting home.

I live in one of the hotspots and I know several people who have it. luckily most people don't have serious symptoms. I do know 1 person who died though. But I think most people don't care because they aren't really getting seriously sick.

Minxie:


I live in one of the hotspots and I know several people who have it. luckily most people don't have serious symptoms. I do know 1 person who died though. But I think most people don't care because they aren't really getting seriously sick.

Goodness! Even if it's mild corona it would still scare the boots off me considering it could go either way. A lot of my relatives are older than 60 so that concerns me too.

Are the people in your community facing any stigma ?

TMKsouth:


Goodness! Even if it's mild corona it would still scare the boots off me considering it could go either way. A lot of my relatives are older than 60 so that concerns me too.

Are the people in your community facing any stigma ?

Nope, kallits don't take anything seriously. Very chilled about this thing. People are even complaining about covid19 positive people walking around like it's nothing. It's very disappointing... And ever since they started drinking, it's gotten worse. Now they really don't give a damn

Minxie:


I live in one of the hotspots and I know several people who have it. luckily most people don't have serious symptoms. I do know 1 person who died though. But I think most people don't care because they aren't really getting seriously sick.

Thats the thing cos no one knows what manner of symptoms that will manifest. If people had serious symptoms before they recover maybe a few people would take it more seriously.

SirWarlock:
Thats the thing cos no one knows what manner of symptoms that will manifest. If people had serious symptoms before they recover maybe a few people would take it more seriously.

Also, the symptoms are quite similar to flu symptoms and winter is here. People's immune systems are already weakening because of cold and rainy conditions so they may be more vulnerable to covid 19. If someone has the flu here, people just say it's corona and move on Lol

Minxie:


Also, the symptoms are quite similar to flu symptoms and winter is here. People's immune systems are already weakening because of cold and rainy conditions so they may be more vulnerable to covid 19. If someone has the flu here, people just say it's corona and move on Lol

Here cos it shares symptoms with malaria and fever and sometimes treatment involve malaria medications, people say it's ordinary malaria so we have nothing to worry about

Minxie:


Nope, kallits don't take anything seriously. Very chilled about this thing. People are even complaining about covid19 positive people walking around like it's nothing. It's very disappointing... And ever since they started drinking, it's gotten worse. Now they really don't give a damn

Lol "kallits"

Gosh, the alcohol factor, I'd forgotten about it.

TMKsouth:


Lol "kallits"

Gosh, the alcohol factor, I'd forgotten about it.

And two weeks ago people still gathered to play in the snow. I tell you, it's like "lockdown" is a foreign concept.

Minxie:


And two weeks ago people still gathered to play in the snow. I tell you, it's like "lockdown" is a foreign concept.

You know your Cape snow and cold-fronts affect us worse here in GP? Please stop it. It was freezing during those days up here.

covid case is high where people smoke alot places lik italy,europe,usa etcSTOP SMOKING NOW!

suremanpatriot:
covid case is high where people smoke alot places lik italy,europe,usa etcSTOP SMOKING NOW!

lol telling my people to stop drinking and smoking is like talking to a wall. believe me, I've tried.

Fact is, the people are just incapable of staying away from each other. They have to go to each other's houses to "kuier". I actually felt sorry for my people when the lockdown began. They couldn't last a day Lol

Eish bro! @ TMKsouth when do you think it’s going to peak? From the look of things I don’t think will return to normalcy even in December? It’s cray man.

TMKsouth:


You know your Cape snow and cold-fronts affect us worse here in GP? Please stop it. It was freezing during those days up here.

That’s impossible asking color folks to give up drinking & smoking, especially “shisha”. Hell naawww! Ain’t no way color folks are giving that up. It is what it is. Heck, some people believe the whole Coronavirus thing is a hoax. And I don’t blame them either.

Minxie:


lol telling my people to stop drinking and smoking is like talking to a wall. believe me, I've tried.

Fact is, the people are just incapable of staying away from each other. They have to go to each other's houses to "kuier". I actually felt sorry for my people when the lockdown began. They couldn't last a day Lol

ololo12:
That’s impossible asking color folks to give up drinking & smoking, especially “shisha”. Hell naawww! Ain’t no way color folks are giving that up. It is what it is. Heck, some people believe the whole Coronavirus thing is a hoax. And I don’t blame them either.

Lol no my people believe it's real, they just don't care. If you die, you die and we move on. So I make extra effort to stay away from people Lol I've extended my own level 5 lockdown For the first time I'm staying away from my own people hahahaha

Hahaha! I worship at a color church in Florida area. Most of the folks there still think it’s a hoax. It’s crazy how this pandemic has affected peoples lifestyle and whatnot. You think things will return to normalcy by December?? Gosh people are tired and a lot of folks are getting depressed.

Minxie:


Lol no my people believe it's real, they just don't care. If you die, you die and we move on. So I make extra effort to stay away from people Lol I've extended my own level 5 lockdown For the first time I'm staying away from my own people hahahaha

ololo12:
Hahaha! I worship at a color church in Florida area. Most of the folks there still think it’s a hoax. It’s crazy how this pandemic has affected peoples lifestyle and whatnot. You think things will return to normalcy by December?? Gosh people are tired and a lot of folks are getting depressed.

I'm stuck in SA so I really wish it would end soon. December is way too far man. By then I will be immune Lol

How you mean you stuck in SA?? You don’t live in Mzansi, no? Shame!

Minxie:


I'm stuck in SA so I really wish it would end soon. December is way too far man. By then I will be immune Lol

ololo12:
How you mean you stuck in SA?? You don’t live in Mzansi, no? Shame!

I work in China. My contract ends next year and Im counting down the last few months because I want to finish up there and come home for a while. It's been fun but there's really no place like home Im in SA now though, i managed to escape China in early February