Vaccine and immunology expert Dr Melinda Suchard says the number of Covid-19 infections in the country is only going to get higher.

Dr Suchard is the head of the Centre for Vaccines and Immunology at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

She says the Covid-19 numbers will rise as the country gradually eases the lockdown, with new transmission patterns expected to emerge.

Dr Suchard says the health system is still managing with sufficient bed capacity for infected patients so far.

RELATED: Dr Max Price explores reasons why SA has an extremely low Covid-19 death rate

The contact patterns are increasing.

We have to anticipate and expect higher numbers.

The numbers will go higher. We know that our epidemic is almost only getting started... The early lockdown prevented the numbers from taking off.

Listen to the discussion on Afternoon Drive with John Maytham:

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South Africa's Covid-19 epidemic is almost only getting started - NICD expert - CapeTalk