By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize says the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 594 817.
Mkhize said a further 37 more COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 0, Free State 2, Gauteng 21, Kwa-Zulu Natal 7, Limpopo 0, Mpumalanga 0, North West 0, Northern Cape 7 and Western Cape 0 which brings the total to 54 724 deaths.
The number of tests conducted to date is 10 861 611. Of these 29 873 tests were conducted since the last report and the cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 514 088, representing a recovery rate of 95%, added Mkhize.
Vaccination Rollout
The number of Health Care Workers Vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol to date is 382 480.
Mkhize also confirmed that four people in South Africa have tested positive for the Covid-19 variant found in India.
The Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) confirmed on Saturday that the four cases of B.1.617.2 were detected in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Each province reported two cases cases and all have a history of recent arrivals from India, Mkhize said in a statement.
Mkhize said all cases have been isolated and managed according to national Covid-19 case management guidelines and contact tracing has been performed in order to limit the spread of this variant.
They noted that were 11 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the UK was found in SA.
Of the eleven cases of B.1.1.7, eight were detected in the Western Cape (with two having a history of travel from Bahrain), one was detected in KwaZulu-Natal and two were detected in Gauteng.
The minister said the B.1.1.7 has been detected in community samples and this therefore suggests that community transmission of B.1.1.7 has already set in.
Mkhize said as the epidemic progresses, the detection of new variants is inevitable.
He said the world was still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, with surges in one territory bound to spillover into other territories.
“We are all deeply concerned about the threat of variants of concern and these reports demonstrate that the issue is complicated.”
Mkhize said travel restrictions would need be balanced against the scientific realities in order to protect the economy.
These findings are urgently being processed by government and announcements pertaining to travel regulations will be made after all appropriate consultations have been undertaken by Cabinet.