By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), reports 3,056 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3,652,024. This increase represents an 8.8% positivity rate.
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 435 deaths and of these, 17 occurred in the past 24 – 48 hours. This brings the total fatalities to 97,955 to date.
The total number of recoveries stood at 3,515,196 with a recovery rate of 96,3%. The country currently has 38,873 active cases.
22,796,653 tests in total have been conducted to date in both public and private sectors.
The total number of vaccines administered in the country so far stands at 30,858,874 as of 17 February.
Meanwhile the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has authorised access to Molnupiravir in the country.
“Until recently, the treatment options for patients with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 have been limited,” the regulator said in a statement on Thursday (17 February).
“New oral antiviral medicines are becoming available for the treatment of confirmed Covid-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at risk of progression to severe Covid-19. One of these new medicines is Molnupiravir.”
In a phase 2/3 clinical trial, Molnupiravir was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalisation or death compared with placebo, but only when treatment was initiated within five days of the first symptoms of Covid-19. Molnupiravir is only indicated for use in patients aged 18 years and older.
Sahpra has authorised, with conditions, the importation of molnupiravir 200mg capsules (Lagevrio) to be provided by MSD (Pty) Ltd, in terms of section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act. This authorisation is for a limited quantity of Lagevrio and is initially limited to a period of six months.
“Imported Lagevrio will be distributed through the usual distribution chain, and will require a prescription by an authorised prescriber in accordance with the control measures applied to Schedule 4 substances,” Sahpra said.
Sahpra has welcomed the use of the molnupiravir pill as it can potentially lower your chances of South Africans falling seriously ill or dying from Covid.
“The authorisation of molnupiravir for compassionate use offers further therapy in the fight against Covid-19,” said Sahpra chief executive Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela.
“Sahpra will continue to play its part in ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of all health products, including innovative treatments so that the public is protected at all times.”