By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize says the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 602 031.
This is an increase of 2759 new cases identified and the number of tests conducted to date is 10 968 926. Of these 37 020 tests were conducted since the last report, said Mkhize.
The minister added that a further 72 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 6, Free State 13, Gauteng 27, Kwa-Zulu Natal 5, Limpopo 0, Mpumalanga 5, North West 0, Northern Cape 4 and Western Cape 12 which brings the total to 54 968 deaths.
Mkhize also said the cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 519 734, 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 430 730.
Meanwhile Deputy President David Mabuza has warned of a third wave with the increase of new cases of Covid-19 across the country.
The Department of Health has said that over the past few weeks there has been an increase in new infections. In a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, Mabuza said the third wave was on the way.
“We are mindful of the pandemic. We are aware of rising infections, which will require restrictions,” he said.
Mabuza also acknowledged that the vaccination programme had been slow. He said this was due to the delays in securing doses of vaccines in the past few months.
The AstraZeneca vaccine was halted in South Africa after it was found to be less effective against a variant. The government sold the does to the AU. South Africa had secured more than 1 million doses from AstraZeneca.
He also said that they have secured more than 600 000 doses from Pfizer in the last two weeks. This was part of a package of vaccines that the country had secured from Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
Mabuza said they would begin Phase 2 of the vaccination programme on Monday.