By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases for South Africa is 1 530 966.
This is an increase of 933 new cases identified and the cumulative total of tests conducted is 9 490 435 with 24 920 tests completed since the last report.
Mkhize said a further 139 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 2, Free State 13, Gauteng 29, Kwa-Zulu Natal 20, Limpopo 57, Mpumalanga 6, North West 0,Northern Cape 3 and Western Cape 9, which brings the total to 51 560 deaths.
The minister added that the cumulative recoveries today stand at 1 458 001 representing a recovery rate of 95%.
Vaccination Rollout
The number of health care workers vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol stands at 157 286 as at 18.30, 16 March 2021.
Meanwhile the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has approved a section 21 emergency-use application for the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
Sahpra said in a statement that the approval was subject to further efficacy and safety surveillance of the vaccine in the country, including against the dominant local coronavirus variant.
The regulator said it has three pillars to ensure that medicines, medical devices and meet the requisite standards to protect the health and well-being of all who reside in South Africa:
- Safety;
- Efficacy;
- Quality.
Government has secured a total of 43 million doses through deals with pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and the Covax group.
However, just a fraction of these vaccines has been sent to the country, with the manufacturers operating on a quarterly basis for deliveries.
For the first quarter, which ends on 31 March, government has anticipated 500,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson and 600,000 doses from Pfizer. This makes it difficult to track annual targets, Mkhize said.