By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa has recorded 205 new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the last 24-hour reporting period. This brings the cumulative number of infections in the country to 2 932 956, with 16 521 active cases and a 96.4% recovery rate.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says 13 people died from COVID 19 in the latest 24 hour reporting period and the overall death toll now stands at 89332.
However some experts fear the real death toll from COVID could be far higher given the large number of excess deaths recorded in South Africa since the start of the pandemic.
According to the NICD data, the coronavirus test positivity rate remains low at 0.8%. This means that the spread of the virus is currently well under control. Eligible people are encouraged to get the vaccine as it is safe and highly effective against COVID.
Meanwhile the latest data from a Discovery Health study on the effectiveness of Covid vaccines in South Africa has shown that the Pfizer doses reduced the risk of being hospitalised or dying from the virus by more than 90%.
The study found that people who received both doses of the vaccine had a 92% lower risk of hospitalisation and a 94% lower risk of death from Covid than those who had not been vaccinated.
Even a single offered significant protection, of 73% and 79%, respectively. The findings are consistent with international studies assessing the same thing. The local study included more than 1.2 million adults.