Delta Variant Driving Covid Third Wave In South Africa

South Africa recorded 18,762 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday -- its highest daily figure since January -- taking its total tally to 1,895,905.

The highly contagious Delta variant is driving a surge in South African COVID-19 infections that is testing the capacity of hospitals and forcing authorities to mull tighter restrictions, the government and scientists said on Saturday. The hardest-hit country in Africa recorded 18,762 new infections on Saturday -- its highest daily figure since January -- taking the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 1,895,905, of which 59,621 have been fatal. The country is in the thick of its third wave. "We are in the exponential phase of the pandemic with the numbers just growing very, very, extremely fast and (they) will keep growing in the next weeks," Tulio de Oliveira, a top virologist in the country said.