Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday thanked South Africans for their well-wishes after he and his wife Dr May Mashego-Mkhize tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19).

The Minister also warned South Africans to be vigilant as South Africa’s Covid-19 cases increased by 9.1% in the last seven days and 10.7% over the last 14 days.

He is particularly concerned with a 42% increase in infections in the Western Cape, which government has defined as a resurgence.

“Fellow South Africans, when we emphasise that the risk of a resurgence remains high, we do not do so to instill fear in you. As government, we have a responsibility to alert you when we see concerning trends. It would be irresponsible of us to ignore ‘small flames’ that we see redeveloping in some parts of the country. You will recall that a few months ago when we witnessed these trends, it wasn’t long before we started experiencing a burden in our health system,” Mkhize said.

The Western Cape Provincial Health Department has identified specific clusters responsible for the increase in cases and has advised that each of these clusters has been investigated and a detailed outbreak response is being undertaken.

Government is alerting all provinces to monitor increasing numbers and quickly mount a response that includes contact tracing and quarantine.

Mkhize reiterated that the rate of new infections and deaths will inform the recommendations that the Health Department makes to the National Coronavirus Council.

“As we continue to monitor the development of a vaccine, the only weapon we possess as a country is our social behaviour and constant adherence to health protocols. All of us must take this responsibility and always encourage those around us. We must also take heed of the major lessons from the Covid-19; that is, despite the anxiety, the psychological trauma, the physical suffering and grief from lives we lost, Covid-19 has reawakened our deep values of Ubuntu in us all,” he stressed.