Ongoing vaccinations the way forward

Global cases update:

• Cases have surpassed 458.57 million, while the death toll has breached 6.06 million; recoveries are at 391.8 million.
• The US has 81.17 million cases, accounting for 18% of global cases; the US death toll is 993,811. 
• India has 42.99 million cases and 515,907 deaths; Brazil has 29.36 million cases and 655,139 deaths.
• China has locked down the city of Shenzhen, home to more than 17 million people as cases surge.
• Shanghai too has imposed restrictions. 
• Hong Kong has 300,000 people in isolation/home quarantine; cases there have plateaued at about 30,000 per day. 
• Pfizer has indicated that a second booster shot against Covid is needed “right now” because of waning immunity.
• Globally, more than 10.9 billion doses have been administered across 184 countries at a rate of 21.3 million doses a day.

Africa cases update:

• Africa’s Covid-19 cases are at 11.63 million; fatalities are at 251,743.
• Morocco has 1.16 million reported cases, Nigeria 254,953, Ghana 160,716, Kenya 323,183.
• The Africa CDC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pfizer to bring supplies of the Paxlovid antiviral COVID-19 pills to the continent.
• Moderna has signed a deal with Kenya to build its first mRNA facility.
• SA’s Aspen has indicated that it will sell, package and distribute Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
• The CDC noted that African countries should be using a combination of public health measures, vaccines, testing and other treatments in their efforts to overcome the pandemic this year.

South Africa cases update:

• SA currently has the 24th highest caseload, at 3.694 million; 972 new cases were reported yesterday.
• Active cases are at 18,341; KwaZulu-Natal leads the way, with 6,027 active cases, followed by Gauteng with 4,694.
• There were 13 Covid-19 deaths reported yesterday; deaths are at 99,725.
• 3.57 million people (or 96.8%) have recovered from the virus.
• 23.41 million tests have been conducted since 5 March 2020; 17,697 tests were conducted yesterday; the SA positivity rate is 5,5%.
• 32.548 million vaccines have been administered in SA to date; 5,344 vaccines were administered yesterday.
• 17.223 million people, or 43.28% of the SA adult population, have been fully vaccinated.
• The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) will meet today to discuss updated lockdown restrictions.
• Ministers have been given until this week to draft new regulations that will replace the state of disaster.
• New, more permanent, long-term regulations are expected to help manage Covid in the country.

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