By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), reports 12,513 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2,075,409. This increase represents a 31.6% positivity rate, which is higher than yesterday (30.2%).
The majority of new cases today are from Gauteng (60%), followed by WC (10%). Limpopo accounted for 7%; Kwa-Zulu Nata accounted for 6%; North West and Mpumalanga each accounted for 5%; Eastern Cape accounted for 3%; Free State accounted for 2%; and Northern Cape accounted for 1% of today’s new cases.
Hospital Admissions:
An increase of 566 hospital admissions have been reported in the past 24 hours.
NICD said a further 331 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 62,171 to date.
Vaccine Update:
For updates on the national vaccine programme, click here.
Meanwhile the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has urged educators and staff to go to the vaccination sites to get their Johnson & Johnson vaccine injections during the sectors’ final week of the vaccination rollout.
In a statement on Monday, the department said the vaccination programme in basic education continued, even after schools went on an early recess last Friday, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the country would move to Adjusted Alert Level 4.
The department announced that more than 333 000 teachers and support staff have since been vaccinated since the campaign started on 23 June 2021.
“Phase 1 targeted 300 000 to be vaccinated within the first 10 days of the programme. This target was based on the number of doses allocated of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to the sector.
“By the end of day 1 of the sector’s vaccination programme, the Basic Education sector had vaccinated a total of 48 000 of the Phase 1 target. By 01 July 2021, over 100% (300 052) of the Phase 1 target had been met across the nine provinces or within 9 days of commencing Phase 1, [with] a total of 300 052 educators and non-teaching staff had been vaccinated,” the department said.
The department also reported that the sector has received an additional 289 000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and these enables the sector to reach its overall target of vaccinating 582 564 educators and non-teaching staff.
“The Basic Education sector will continue to administer the remaining doses of the vaccine to cover the remaining 282 512 staff. In addition, support staff from independent schools, food handlers, screeners, cleaners and Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners will be included in the roll out programme,” the department said.
The department reiterated its call to all educators and staff to follow the schedules in each district, in order to ensure a smooth roll-out of the [vaccination] programme.