South Africa is experiencing new COVID-19 wave

Health officials and scientists in South Africa said the country may be entering a fifth COVID wave as there is rise in infections over the past 14 days.

According to scientists and health officials, the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants may be responsible for this increase.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla told a briefing that although hospitalisations were picking up there was so far no dramatic change in admissions to intensive care units or deaths.

South Africa registered the most coronavirus cases and deaths on the African continent.

It has so far recorded 3.76 million cases including 100,000 deaths.