NICD detects new Covid-19 variant in Free State, Gauteng’s wastewater plants

As new Covid-19 infections continues to climb everyday, South Africa has recorded over 3 000 to 7 000 cases this past weeks, pushed by the fifth wave.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)’s latest water-based epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance report, the new Omicron sub-variant BA.4 has been detected in wastewater treatment plants in Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Nothern Cape, Western Cape and North West provinces.

“Variants of SARS-CoV-2 can be identified in wastewater through detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are specific to each variant,” read the report.

“SARS-CoV-2 is shed from symptomatic and asymptomatic persons in stool but is not transmitted by the faecal-oral route nor via wastewater,” NICD said in the report.

The NICD said although these sub-variants have been detected, SARS-CoV-2 levels have remained stable at the Bloemspruit WWTP in Bloemfontein.

NICD said in Gauteng, they detected sub-variant at Daspoort in Tshwane South and Rooiwal in Tshwane North over past four consecutive weeks.

“The levels have further increased in Goudkoppies in the city of Johannesburg.

In Ekurhuleni South, sustained increases over three weeks were noted in Vlakplaats while high levels remained stable in Hartebeesfontein, Ekurhuleni North,” said NICD.

As of Monday, the NICD reported 2 650 new Covid-19 cases, representing a 21.0% positivity rate.

The NICD further said that, although some mutations associated with the Delta variant are believed to be still in existence, details surrounding these are still unclear.