By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), reports 1,004 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3,954,971.

The majority of new cases today are from Gauteng (43%), followed by Kwa-Zulu Natal (17%). Western Cape accounted for 16%; Free State accounted for 8%; Mpumalanga accounted for 5%; Eastern Cape and North West each accounted for 4% respectively; Northern Cape accounted for 2%; and Limpopo accounted for 1% of today's new cases.

This increase represents a 9.4% positivity rate.

The proportion of positive new cases/total new tested today is 9.4%, and is lower than yesterday (11.5%). The 7-day average is 13.1% today, and is lower than yesterday (13.8%).

Today, the NDoH reports 16 deaths and of these 4 deaths occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours. The cumulative COVID-19 deaths are 100,162 to date. 

Meanwhile anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin is no longer allowed to be prescribed to COVID-19 patients.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has terminated the controlled Compassionate Use Access Programme with immediate effect, saying there's no credible evidence it helps treat COVID-19.

The authority had allowed it's use in January last year amid public interest and reports of illicit Ivermectin entering the market.

It said that since the programme was introduced, more evidence has emerged around the efficacy of Ivermectin.

This includes the World Health Organization issuing an advisory that only recommended Ivermectin use within the context of clinical trials.

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a similar caution, warning the anti-parasitic drug has not been shown to be safe or effective and taking large doses is dangerous.

In South Africa, no further importation of unregistered Ivermectin products will be allowed and health facilities will no longer be enabled to hold bulk stock in anticipation of prescriptions.