Covid-19 update: 4,227 new cases reported in SA



4,227 new cases of Covid-19 have been identified in the past 24 hours, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a division of the National Health Laboratory Service.

This brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3,935,761. This increase corresponds to a 15.7% positivity rate.

The majority of new cases today are from Gauteng (31%), followed by Western Cape (22%). KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 16%; The Eastern Cape accounted for 11%; The Free State accounted for 6%; Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West each accounted for 4%; and Limpopo accounted for 1% of today’s cases.

The country has also recorded 50 deaths, 14 of which have occurred in the last 24 to 48 hours. This brings the total death toll to 101,002 to date.

“Due to the ongoing review by the National Department of Health (NDoH), there may be a backlog in reported Covid-19 mortality,” the NICD said.

25,108,084 tests were conducted in both the public and private sectors.

There has been an increase of 139 hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.

The Gauteng Department of Health has met its goal of vaccinating more than 10 million people in the province against Covid-19.

Health MEC Dr. Nomathemba Mokgethi revealed this Tuesday while presenting her department’s budget vote for fiscal year 2022-23 in the provincial legislature.

Covid-19 syringes

Gauteng leads the country’s other provinces in the number of vaccinations administered with 10,005,136, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with more than five million vaccinations. Nationwide, nearly 50% of the population is vaccinated.

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Despite the milestone reached by the province, Mokgethi said her department plans to step up its vaccination program amid fears of a fifth wave of infections this winter.

She said a total of R1.5 billion has been set aside to help fight the pandemic.

“I have to hasten to say that there are more people who need the sting to protect themselves and those around them.

“Therefore, we would like to remind everyone once again that Covid-19 is still in our midst and that vaccination along with adhering to safety measures remains the best form of protection as we accelerate livelihood recovery efforts,” Mokgethi said .

Additional reporting by Thapelo Lekabe