By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), reports 17 489 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 236 805. This increase represents a 31.0% positivity rate.
With the current disruption of some COVID-19 testing sites in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, individuals who have COVID-19 symptoms who can’t access testing facilities are asked to try and limit the transmission of the virus by taking precautions and to quarantine if possible.
The majority of new cases today are from Gauteng (46%), followed by Western Cape (17%). Limpopo accounted for 10%; North West accounted for 9%; Mpumalanga accounted for 7%; Eastern Cape accounted for 5%; Free State accounted for 3%; KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape accounted for 2% of today’s new cases, said NICD.
Hospital Admissions:
There has been an increase of 787 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.
NICD added that a further 453 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 65 595 to date.
Vaccine Update:
For updates on the national vaccine programme, click here.
According to the WHO’s weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19, the global number of new cases reported last week was nearly three million, a 10% increase as compared to the previous week.
The highest number of new cases were reported in Brazil (333 030; a 9% decrease), India (291 789; 7% decrease), Indonesia (243 119; 44% increase), the United Kingdom (210 277; 30% increase), and Colombia (174 320; 15% decrease).
Globally, cases of the Alpha variant have been reported in 178 countries and territories or areas, while 123 reported cases of the Beta variant.
In addition, 75 countries reported cases of the Gamma variant, and 111 recorded cases of the Delta variant.