South&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;has been witnessing a continuous decline in new Covid-19 cases for the past one week, according to the latest statistics from the Department of Health.

“We can look at a seven-day average and it has been on a sustained decline for the past week. So it’s not a guess but pretty clear,” Ridhwaan Sulimaan, a senior researcher at Council For Scientific and Industrial Research said.&nbsp;

As of 18 January, South Africa reported 9,010 new cases, taking the total number of cases to almost 1.35 million cases. New deaths at 344, taking the total number of deaths to 37,449.

Asked if the country has already seen its second wave peak, Suliman said, “When we refer to a peak we refer to cases reaching a maximum. Based on that, yes we have reached a second peak,

Department of Health, Minister, Zweli Mkhize said that the second wave was being brought under control. He attributed this to continuous mask-wearing, social distancing and washing hands. &nbsp;

“When we look at our records at this point, we can see that we are, possibly, beginning to see an inflexion of the curve and we are also seeing that the numbers [of infections] may be starting to decline. But it is too early to celebrate,” Minister said while addressing the media today.&nbsp;

Yesterday [Sunday] we noted a 23 per cent&nbsp;decrease in new cases nationally compared to seven days prior, he said.&nbsp;

However, he said that the health-care system continues to experience significant strain and urged&nbsp;South&nbsp;Africans to continue wearing masks, social distance and wash hands regularly&nbsp;

South Africa has been witnessing a continuous decline in new Covid-19 cases for the past one week, according to the latest statistics from the Department of Health.

South Africa has been witnessing a continuous decline in new Covid-19 cases for the past one week, according to the latest statistics from the Department of Health. “We can look at a seven-day average and it has been on a sustained decline for the past week. So it’s not a guess but pretty clear,” Ridhwaan Sulimaan, a senior researcher at Council For Scientific and Industrial Research said. As of 18 January, South Africa reported 9,010 new cases, taking the total number of cases to almost 1.35 million cases. New deaths at 344, taking the total number of deaths to 37,449. Asked if the country has already seen its second wave peak, Suliman said, “When we refer to a peak we refer to cases reaching a maximum. Based on that, yes we have reached a second peak, Department of Health, Minister, Zweli Mkhize said that the second wave was being brought under control. He attributed this to continuous mask-wearing, social distancing and washing hands. “When we look at our records at this point, we can see that we are, possibly, beginning to see an inflexion of the curve and we are also seeing that the numbers [of infections] may be starting to decline. But it is too early to celebrate,” Minister said while addressing the media today. Yesterday [Sunday] we noted a 23 per cent decrease in new cases nationally compared to seven days prior, he said. However, he said that the health-care system continues to experience significant strain and urged South Africans to continue wearing masks, social distance and wash hands regularly

South Africa coronavirus cases decline seven days consecutively

A day after the UK government declared a new strain of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-covid-19-mutant-found-in-south-africa-spreads-more-swiftly-351972">coronavirus </a>was discovered from South Africa, China on suspended flights from Britain.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/lufthansa-has-flown-80-tonnes-of-food-supplies-into-uk-351946/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“Taking into account the changing nature of the virus and the impact this could have, and to safeguard the health of Chinese and foreigners coming and going, the Chinese side decided to suspend flights with Britain, after a thorough evaluation and consultation of other countries’ policies,” China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/families-of-coronavirus-victims-sue-italy-for-100-million-euros-351928">EU </a>countries including other governments announced a ban on flights from the UK after a COVID-19 variant was announced by British PM Johnson last Saturday.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, British foreign secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-covid-19-strain-from-south-africa-detected-in-uk-health-secretary-matt-hancock-351873">Matt Hankock</a> had declared another strain was discovered in the UK which had come in from South Africa with two infected cases reported in the country.

The Johnson government moved quickly to introduce restrictions on travel from South Africa over the spread of another new variant of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-will-stay-with-us-for-the-next-10-years-says-vaccine-creator-351920">coronavirus</a>.

However, several European countries have now started easing travel bans imposed on Britain which has been negotiating with the EU for a last-minute Brexit deal which is set to announced shortly.

France had blocked the land border on Monday after PM Johnson declared that the new strain was "70 per cent" more transferrable leading several thousand trucks stranded at the French-UK border at Dover.&nbsp;

Although the trucks were allowed to move early on Tuesday but British authorities insisted on a COVID-19 test for drivers leading to scuffles at the border as several truckers complained they would be stuck for days and would not make it in time for Christmas with their families even as WHO's Europe director Hans Kluge said that the UN body would "discuss strategies for testing, reducing transmission &amp; communicating risks."

Meanwhile, the Europen Union is planning to kick off its vaccination from December 27 as most of Europe is being forced to celebrate Christmas at home.

A day after the UK government declared a new strain of coronavirus was discovered from South Africa, China on suspended flights from Britain. Watch: “Taking into account the changing nature of the virus and the impact this could have, and to safeguard the health of Chinese and foreigners coming and going, the Chinese side decided to suspend flights with Britain, after a thorough evaluation and consultation of other countries’ policies,” China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

A day after the UK government declared a new strain of coronavirus was discovered from South Africa, China on suspended flights from Britain. Watch: “Taking into account the changing nature of the virus and the impact this could have, and to safeguard the health of Chinese and foreigners coming and going, the Chinese side decided to suspend flights with Britain, after a thorough evaluation and consultation of other countries’ policies,” China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. EU countries including other governments announced a ban on flights from the UK after a COVID-19 variant was announced by British PM Johnson last Saturday. On Wednesday, British foreign secretary Matt Hankock had declared another strain was discovered in the UK which had come in from South Africa with two infected cases reported in the country. The Johnson government moved quickly to introduce restrictions on travel from South Africa over the spread of another new variant of coronavirus. However, several European countries have now started easing travel bans imposed on Britain which has been negotiating with the EU for a last-minute Brexit deal which is set to announced shortly. France had blocked the land border on Monday after PM Johnson declared that the new strain was "70 per cent" more transferrable leading several thousand trucks stranded at the French-UK border at Dover. Although the trucks were allowed to move early on Tuesday but British authorities insisted on a COVID-19 test for drivers leading to scuffles at the border as several truckers complained they would be stuck for days and would not make it in time for Christmas with their families even as WHO's Europe director Hans Kluge said that the UN body would "discuss strategies for testing, reducing transmission & communicating risks." Meanwhile, the Europen Union is planning to kick off its vaccination from December 27 as most of Europe is being forced to celebrate Christmas at home.

Now, China suspends UK flights over new virus strain

Africa was one of the last continents to get infected with the coronavirus. Since then the trajectory of infections has been unprecedentedly high. Watch report.

COVID-19 creates havoc in parts of Africa: S Africa surpasses 400,000 cases