By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize says the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 599 272.
This is an increase of 1548 new cases and the number of tests conducted to date is 10 931 906. Of these 26 075 tests were conducted since the last report, says Mkhize.
The minister added that a further 71 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 3, Free State 23, Gauteng 16, Kwa-Zulu Natal 5, Limpopo 0, Mpumalanga 0, North West 0, Northern Cape 16 and Western Cape 8 which brings the total to 54 896 deaths.
The cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 519 258, representing a recovery rate of 95%.
Vaccination Rollout
The number of Health Care Workers Vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol as at 18.30 today is 414 372.
Meanwhile Health experts say that South Africa should introduce stricter lockdown regulations to avoid the impact of new Covid-19 variants and a severe third wave.
Dr Asmal Dasoo, convenor of the Progressive Health Forum, said that South Africa should move to a higher lockdown level to further limit gatherings.
He said that the most important thing was to prepare healthcare workers for an influx of new cases, and that ideally gatherings should be limited to around 10 people.
This was echoed by Alex van den Heever, chair of Social Security Systems Administration and Management Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, who said that restrictions will need to be introduced as the country ramps up its vaccination programme.
“All we have to do now is block all gatherings of more than ten people. Once you have more than ten people, the spread becomes more exponential.”
He added that a travel ban on the UK and India was unlikely to make much difference, as Covid-19 variants from these two countries have likely been circulating in South Africa for much longer than official data suggests.
On Thursday (7 May), Health minister Mkhize said that government can facilitate and intervene, but ultimately it would rather concentrate on economic recovery rather than imposing further restrictions.
“Therefore every citizen must adhere to the non-pharmaceutical interventions if we are to avoid further restrictions,” he said.
He added that the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) is deliberating on the issue of border control and final determinations will find expression in Cabinet and be communicated to the public accordingly.