By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo credit:123RF.
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize said in a statement that the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in South Africa now stands at 1 526 873.
This is an increase of 1225 new cases identified in the last 24 hours and the cumulative total of tests conducted to date is 9 393 727 with 24 133 new tests recorded since the last report.
Mkhize said a further 69 more COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 0, Free State 4, Gauteng 25, Kwa-Zulu Natal 8, Limpopo 17, Mpumalanga 0, North West 0, Northern Cape 12 and Western Cape 3, which brings the total to 51 179 deaths.
The minister added that the recoveries now stand at 1 449 654, representing a recovery rate of 94,8%.
Vaccination Rollout
The number of health care workers vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol is 145 215 as of 6.30 pm 12 March 2021.
Meanwhile Deputy President David Mabuza admitted that the inoculation acquisition has been a very difficult journey given the shortage of global vaccine supply.
He told delegates during the virtual South African National Aids Council (SANAC) plenary that the country faced challenges of negotiating “onerous and tough contractual” terms imposed by the vaccine manufacturers.
“While the process of vaccine acquisition and procurement will require agility and speed to meet our domestic vaccination demands, we are confident of meeting our targeted projections based on negotiations currently underway to access vaccines through various institutional platforms,” he said on Friday.
Deputy President Mabuza also took the opportunity to commend Minister Mkhize and the team for their job well done as they continue to work under demanding circumstances.
“In the end, we will overcome as a country,” he vowed.
Alongside efforts to accelerate the country’s comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), the Deputy President has called on delegates to support government’s vaccination programme aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 and reduce deaths.
“Over and above non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as continuous sanitisation of hands, social distancing and avoiding high spreader gatherings, the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines will help us to reach population immunity so that more people are immune against the virus.”
He said the plan has comprehensively mapped out storage, distribution and immunisation sites that will ensure equitable access to lifesaving vaccines by everyone irrespective of where they live.
“The phases of the plan provide clear categorisation and prioritisation of various population groups to be targeted over the period of the vaccination process until the country achieves the desired population immunity.”
The Deputy President, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Vaccines, appointed by President Cyril said the team has been providing leadership and overseeing the distribution.
The Health Department and National Treasury have been leading negotiations with global vaccine manufacturers to ensure that the country has enough jabs for the distribution plan to succeed, he added.