By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize said in a statement the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in South Africa now stands at 1 512 225.
This is an increase of 1447 new cases identified in the last 24 hours.
The cumulative total of tests conducted to date is 9 054 643 with 26 569 new tests recorded since the last report.
Mkhize said a further 157 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 6, Free State 26, Gauteng 33, Kwa-Zulu Natal 46, Limpopo 23, Mpumalanga 3, North West 0, Northern Cape 2 and Western Cape 18.
This brings the total to 49 941 deaths.
The minister added that the recoveries now stand at 1 429 047, representing a recovery rate of 94%.
Vaccination Rollout
The number of health care workers vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol is 67 303 as of 6.30 pm 27 February 2021.
Meanwhile the second batch of 80,000 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccine arrived at the OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday Morning.
A South African Airways (SAA) flight left for Belgium to collect the batch on Thursday.
This now pushes the total number of doses received in the first phase of the government’s rollout program to 160,000.
The vaccines will be distributed to different centres country-wide.
“South Africa’s second tranche of Johnson&Johnson Covid-19 vaccines have touched down at OR Tambo Int! It comes as the majority of initial doses received two weeks ago have been administered to healthcare workers, “Mkhize tweeted.
South Africa began its vaccination programm last week with Healthcare workers in the public and private sectors becoming the first in line to receive the jab as part of phase one of the mass rollout of the vaccine.
The country has set aside a budget of R9 Billion towards funding the free Covid-19 vaccination programme in the medium term, with the rollout expected to gather pace in the second half of the year.
This brings the vaccine rollout costs to a total of R10.3 billion for the current year, as an additional R1.3 billion was allocated in the current financial year.