By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize said in a statement the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 611 143.
Mkhize said a further 59 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 0, Free State 5, Gauteng 20, Kwa-Zulu Natal 8, Limpopo 0, Mpumalanga 2, North West 0, Northern Cape 18 and Western Cape 6 which brings the total to 55 183 deaths.
The number of tests conducted to date is 11 087 505. Of these 34 512 tests were conducted since the last report, added Mkhize.’
The cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 523 243 representing a recovery rate of 94,5%.
Vaccination Rollout
The number of vaccinations completed under the Sisonke Protocol as at 18.30 today is 478 452.
Meanwhile the final Covid-19 jab as part of the Sisonke trial has been administered.
The Sisonke study recorded its highest number of vaccinations in a single day on Thursday when 24,439 healthcare workers received their vaccines around the country.
Stavros Nicolaou, who heads the Business for SA (B4SA) health working group, said that Monday would mark a turning point in SA’s 14-month fight against Covid-19.
“While the vaccination of healthcare workers will continue, we will now, for the first time, commence the vaccination of ordinary South Africans. We will start with our most vulnerable people, the 5.4 million over 60s. The coming weeks we will see a phased ramp up of our national capacity as both public and private vaccination capacity increases and the department takes mobile vaccination to congregate settings, like old age homes,” he explained.
He said the number of vaccines that need to be administered daily to achieve herd immunity was daunting.
“B4SA continues to work with the government and related stakeholders to ensure our energies are focused on getting Phase 2 successfully out of the starting blocks,” he said.
Nicolaou said the number of registrations for over 60s was still too low.
“We know from a recent National Institute for Communicable Diseases report that it is only a small percentage of people who are reluctant to receive the vaccine. So we need to keep pushing the message: please register and help others to do so as well.
“The overwhelming majority of the nation is willing to be vaccinated, and we must continue to make sure that this rollout gets underway. There will be hiccups. There will be frustrations. But this is an enormous challenge that we must tackle collectively and directly.”
Registration is currently only open to healthcare works and people over the age of 60. When registering through the online portal, applicants will be allocated a slot according to the vaccination site nearest to their homes or place of work.
Applicants can also register via WhatsApp – by sending “REGISTER” to 0600123456 – or dialling *134*832# via the zero-rated USSD system. Further details, including confirmation of the registration, dates, and available sites, will be sent via SMS to the applicant.