By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), reports 581 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3,713,833. 

The majority of new cases today are from Gauteng (47%), followed by Western Cape (20%). Kwa-Zulu Natal accounted for 19%; Free State, Mpumalanga and North West each accounted for 3% respectively; Eastern Cape and Northern Cape each accounted for 2% respectively; and Limpopo accounted for 1% of today’s new cases.

This increase represents a 4.5% positivity rate.

The proportion of positive new cases/total new tested today is 4.5%, which is lower than yesterday (5.9%) The 7-day average is 5.6% today, which is lower than yesterday (5.8%).

Due to the ongoing audit exercise by the National Department of Health (NDoH), there may be a backlog of COVID-19 mortality cases reported. Today, the NDoH reports 4 deaths and of these, 1 occurred in the past 24 – 48 hours. This brings the total fatalities to 99,970 to date.

The Western Cape's last mass Covid-19 vaccination site, the Athlone Stadium Vaccination Centre of Hope, administered its last doses of Covid-19 vaccine on Saturday before closing.

The site was opened on August 17 last year and was one of two mass vaccination sites, the other being the Cape Town International Convention Centre Vaccination Centre of Hope.

Provincial Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said: "We are moving towards integrating Covid-19 vaccination into our routine health services, which means clients will be offered vaccination at all our health facilities, in addition to the outreaches and pop-up sites. But it will now be available to all at any health facility."

Health Department Deputy General, Dr Saadiq Kariem, who received a booster dose at the site on Friday, said: "I encourage everyone to continue getting vaccinated at our health facilities and to get their boosters which is crucial to limit the impact future waves might have."

By March 24, the province had administered 5 181 252 Covid-19 doses. About 426 000 booster doses have been administered. The provincial Health Department said 55.77% of the adult population were vaccinated with at least one dose (50.43% fully vaccinated) and 12-17-year-olds: 135 808 (21.12% ) vaccinated with at least one dose and 42 210 (6.56%) fully vaccinated).

Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said: "The reason for the closing of the Athlone Stadium Vaccination Site of Hope is the end of the lease agreement with the City of Cape Town.

"From August 17, 2021, we have vaccinated 80 649 people. Vaccination is the only protection we have against Covid-19. It is important for people to vaccinate in other sites."