SA eases to adjusted lockdown Level 2
Shireen Darmalingam
Vaccine update:
- Globally, over 5.71 billion vaccines have been administered across 184 countries at a rate of 34.1 million doses a day.
- Experts have estimated that almost everyone will likely have been either infected or vaccinated before the end of the pandemic.
- Breakthrough infections and a surge in cases in children and unvaccinated adults are still likely this year.
- US President Joe Biden is expected to announce new plans to boost vaccine supply before the UN meeting where global vaccine supply will be discussed.
- Pfizer has indicated that its vaccine for kids could arrive by end October.
- While booster shots remain contentious, Israel is preparing to offer citizens a second booster shot should it be needed.
- The UK may abandon calls for proof of vaccination to enter certain venues, and may soon drop mandatory testing for returning travellers as part of a further easing of restrictions to be announced this week.
- Scientists have warned that Africa’s low vaccination rate could foster vaccine-evading mutations that would complicate attempts to end the pandemic.
- Locally, 14.690 million vaccines have been administered to date in SA with close to 7 million people being fully vaccinated; 15,424 vaccines were administered yesterday.
Global cases update:
- Cases have surpassed 225.47 million, while the death toll has surpassed 4.64 million; recoveries are at 202.06 million.
- The US has 41.85 million cases, accounting for 18% of global cases; the US death toll is 677,988.
- India has 33.26 million cases and 442,907 deaths; Brazil has 20.99 million cases and 586,882 deaths.
Africa cases update:
- Africa’s Covid-19 cases are at 8.11 million; fatalities are at 203,315.
- Morocco has 904,647 reported cases, Nigeria 199,151, Ghana 123,521, Kenya 243,725.
South Africa cases update:
- SA currently has the 17th highest caseload, at 2.858 million; 3,961 new cases were reported yesterday.
- Active cases are at 106,022; KwaZulu-Natal leads the way, with 47,029 active cases, followed by the Western Cape with 10,399.
- Covid-19 deaths rose by 126 yesterday, to 84,877; 2.667 million people (or 93.3%) have recovered from the virus.
- 17.07 million tests have been conducted since 5 March 2020; 35,965 tests were conducted yesterday.
- The positivity rate is 11.0%.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the easing of lockdown restrictions to adjusted Level 2 in a bid to revive the SA economy.
- The night-time curfew was shortened to 11 pm from 10pm.
- Limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings were increased.
- Alcohol trading hours were also extended by one day, from Monday to Friday.
- The president stressed that immunising the adult population was key to fully re-opening the economy and avoiding a fourth infection wave.
- The president also announced vaccine passport plans.
- The restrictions will be reviewed in two weeks, depending on the state of the pandemic.
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