South Africa struggles with post-holiday spike in COVID-19

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa is struggling to cope with a spike in COVID-19 cases that has already overwhelmed many hospitals, as people returning from widespread holiday travel have spread the country's more infectious coronavirus variant.

Of particular concern is Gauteng province, the country's most populous, which includes the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Authorities say it is already seeing a spike in new infections after people traveled to coastal areas, where the variant is dominant.

“We expect that Gauteng is going to be hit very soon and very hard,” said Professor Willem Hanekom, director of the Africa Health Research Institute. “It is anticipated Gauteng will have a steep curve of increased cases and hospitalizations.”

Already the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in the Pretoria area has reached capacity and has erected “fever tents” outside the main building to house people who are awaiting admission to the COVID-19 wards.

“In almost all cases the patients have to be treated, whether they are struggling to breathe or other symptoms. That is why you see these oxygen tanks here at the fever tents,” Biko hospital CEO Dr. Mathabo Mathebula said Monday.

Videos circulated on social media of many patients in the tents with oxygen masks, even as the parking lot pavement was covered with rainwater.

“Over the last seven days the infections and admissions in hospitals in Gauteng have been doubling and the number of fatalities has increased quite exponentially," Gauteng premier David Makhura said.

Hospitalizations and deaths in the province are quickly surpassing the levels of the first peak experienced in July last year, he said.

An additional 1,000 beds will be added to the Nasrec field hospital near Johannesburg’s Soweto township to...