By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister health Dr Zweli Mkhize says as of today the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases is 1 521 706.
The cumulative total of tests conducted to date is 9 269 122 with 13 630 new tests recorded since the last report.
Mkhize said a further 125 more COVID-19 deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 0, Free State 31, Gauteng eight, Kwa-Zulu Natal seven, Limpopo 0, Mpumalanga five, North West 46, Northern Cape 18 and Western Cape 10 which brings the total to 50 803 deaths.
And the recoveries now stand at 1 442 045, representing a recovery rate of 94.7%.
Vaccination Rollout
The number of health care workers vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol is 107 054 as of 6.30 pm 8 March 2021.
In phase 1 of the vaccination programme, only healthcare workers in the public and private sector are being vaccinated as they are most at risk to Covid-19 infection.
They are being vaccinated as part of the Sisonke Protocol, a study, which allows government to rollout the vaccine to health workers while awaiting the necessary approvals from the SA Health Products Regulator.
Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is reporting 116 135 492 confirmed cases, including 2 581 976 deaths.
South Africa has procured 9 million vaccine doses from the J&J, as well as 20 million doses from Pfizer have been promised, along with an additional 12 million doses from the COVAX facility.
South Africa also expects vaccine doses through the AU’s African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team facility.