South Africa: Coronavirus surpasses 1 million cases

South Africa has reported at least one million coronavirus cases since confirming its first case in March, the Ministry of Health said late on Sunday, confirming a new fast-spreading variant of the virus in the country Only a few days after.

"Today, we have violated one million cumulative cases of COVID-19 in South Africa, with a total of 1,004,413 cases reported," the ministry said in a statement.

The total number of casualties rose to 26,735.

Its outbreak in the worst country in Africa is intensifying with a mark of one lakh nine days after the country reported 900,000 cases. It took South Africa two weeks to reach 900,000 cases as against 800,000 in early December.

Many hospitals and medical centres have reported wards cancelling their holidays to deal with the massive flood of patients with many healthcare patients.

Mediclinic International, among South Africa's top three private hospital networks, said on Sunday that its health resources, including staff, equipment and beds for critically ill patients, had a huge increase in serious cases.

Referring to the Western Cape province, the hospital body said, "The number of patients receiving care in our hospitals has exceeded the previous number during the first peak, and the majority of our ICUs and higher care units are running at capacity."

The new version, referred to as 501.V2, was discovered by a team of scientists from around South Africa who are tracking the genetics of the virus. He said that this edition is concentrated in the south and southeast of the country and has been dominated by findings from samples collected since October.

According to local media, the coronavirus Command Council, the apex government body monitoring the disease, met in a meeting on Sunday to decide whether any further steps, such as tight movements or strict rules should be imposed on public movements. President Cyril Ramaphosa could deliver a television address later this week.

The number of daily cases in South Africa has surpassed the peak of July. It recorded a record 14,796 cases on 25 December.

Since the new version was announced, many countries have cancelled flights to the country and banned South African citizens.

South Africa has the most cases of COVID-19 in Africa, followed by Morocco and Egypt.