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 1 615 485.
Mkhize said a further 50 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 4, Free State 30, Gauteng 6, Kwa-Zulu Natal 0, Limpopo 0, Mpumalanga 0, North West 0, Northern Cape 8 and Western Cape 2 which brings the total to 55 260 deaths.
The number of tests conducted to date is 11 134 553. Of these 19 505 tests were conducted since the last report and the cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 526 638 representing a recovery rate of 94,5%, added the minister.
Mkhize said phase two of the vaccination rollout proceeded reasonably well on Monday despite the challenges experienced in the respective provinces, of which load-shedding and violent protests in the Free State were the most impactful.
“Although most of the sites were able to proceed, a large number of vaccinations were captured on paper and the numbers are still being reconciliated. In addition the numbers vaccinated at old age homes still need to be captured. We will therefore allow for this reconciliation over the course of the next 24 hours and will announce the numbers vaccinated in phase two as from tomorrow (Tuesday). In due course we will launch a public facing dashboard that will publish the numbers near real time,” Mkhize said.
He noted that a number of sector leaders aged 60 years and above – that included Archbishop Desmond Tutu – came forward to be vaccinated publicly.
“We express our heartfelt gratitude for their patriotism and leadership as we know that this will assist us to build confidence in the vaccines and in the vaccination process. We continue to encourage health care workers, including traditional healers, and citizens 60 years and above to register and attend when they have been invited,” Mkhize said.
The government has set a goal to vaccinate 5 million people by the end of June, Mkhize, said on Sunday.