(Add more details)
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 27 (Reuters) – Total South African coronavirus infections since the first case in March crossed a million on Sunday, his health ministry said, just days after the presence of a new variant of faster spread in the country.
The serious milestone comes nine days after the country, the hardest hit in Africa, has registered 900,000 cases. The country had taken two weeks to reach the 900,000 of the 800,000 seen in early December.
Several hospitals and medical centers have reported that neighborhoods have overwhelmed patients with many health workers canceling their vacations to deal with a huge influx of patients.
Mediclinic International Plc, among the country’s top three private hospital networks, said on Sunday that a severe increase in cases had put very strong pressure on available health resources, including staff, equipment and beds, to provide intensive treatment in seriously ill patients.
“The number of patients seeking care at our hospitals has surpassed previous numbers during the first peak and most of our ICU and High Care units are operating at capacity,” the company said, referring to the Western Cape province.
The new variant, called 501.V2, was discovered by a network of scientists from all over South Africa who have been tracing the genetics of the virus. The variant appears to be centered in the south and southeast of the country and has been dominating the results of samples collected since October, they say.
The Coronavirus Board of Directors, the highest governing body to control the disease, met on Sunday to decide whether to impose measures such as stricter closure or stricter rules on public movement, according to local media News24 .
“Today we have infringed one million cumulative cases of COVID-19 in South Africa, with a cumulative total of 1,004,413 cases reported,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
The total number of deaths was 26,735.
For an interactive graphic, click tmsnrt.rs/2Kx1cMO
The number of daily increases in infections has already exceeded the peak in July, when cases exceeded 14,000. The daily infections of December 25 were the highest so far with 14,796 cases.
Since the new variant was announced, several countries have canceled flights to the country, attacking the already tormented travel and tourism sector.
Promit Mukherjee Reports; Edited by Alison Williams