A slow emergence from the pandemic

Global cases update:

• Cases have surpassed 491.8 million, while the death toll has breached 6.17 million; recoveries are at 426 million.
• The US has 81.83 million cases, accounting for 17% of global cases; the US death toll is 1.0 million. 
• India has 43.02 million cases and 521,388 deaths; Brazil has 29.99 million cases and 660,629 deaths.
• The rate of infections in Shanghai has intensified despite most of the city now under movement restrictions.
• Reports of new sub-strains of the Omicron variant are emerging as clusters of infections have flared nationwide in China 
• Thailand had reported a record number of new infections for a second day yesterday; the death toll increased to the highest in more than five months.
• South Korea is expected ease social distancing measures on signs that the spread of the Omicron variant is slowing.
• Japan is expected to increase the number of international arrivals allowed under Covid restrictions to 10,000 a day, from the current 7,000.
• Globally, more than 11.3 billion doses have been administered across 184 countries at a rate of 22 million doses a day.

Africa cases update:

• Africa’s Covid-19 cases are at 11.76 million; fatalities are at 252,873.
• Morocco has 1.163 million reported cases, Nigeria 255,468, Ghana 160,971, Kenya 323,454.
• The EU has contributed EUR16 million to assist in funding vaccination drives on the continent.
• This will assist the WHO to boost vaccination campaigns and increase coverage in 15 African countries where only 15% of the population is vaccinated.
• The aim is to ensure increased access for the most vulnerable and those living in hard-to-reach, remote, and conflict-affected areas.

South Africa cases update:

• SA currently has the 29th highest caseload, at 3.722 million; 889 new cases were reported yesterday.
• Active cases are at 11,781; Gauteng leads the way, with 4,853 active cases, followed by Kwazulu-Natal with 3,546.
• There were 4 Covid-19 deaths reported yesterday; deaths are at 100,050.
• 3.611 million people (or 97%) have recovered from the virus.
• 23.909 million tests have been conducted since 5 March 2020; 25,936 tests were conducted yesterday; the SA positivity rate is 5.3%.
• 33.821 million vaccines have been administered in SA to date; 2,133 vaccines were administered yesterday.
• 17.549 million people, or 44.1% of the SA adult population, have been fully vaccinated.
• Government has “no plans to introduce a mandatory Covid vaccine policy” in SA.
• Government plans to lift the national state of disaster and most lockdown restrictions despite the likelihood of a fifth wave in the coming weeks.

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