SA vaccination drive gathering pace

Vaccine update:

• US infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci commented that the door is open to administering booster shots in the US sooner than 8 months from full vaccination. 
• A third booster jab appeared to curb a Delta-led surge in cases and prevent severe disease according to a study in Israel.
• Israel has expanded its booster drive to everyone aged 12 and above.
• Abu Dhabi has made booster shots mandatory for people who have been vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine.
• Protests against restrictions resumed in Berlin as it considers banning unvaccinated people from restaurants and concerts. 
• Globally, over 5.22 billion vaccines have been administered across 183 countries at a rate of 40.2 million doses a day.
• The WHO noted that vaccinations on the African continent have tripled during the past week.
• The WHO, however, noted that protecting even 10% of the population by the end of September is “a very daunting task”.
• Locally, 12.021 million vaccines have been administered to date; 22,566 vaccines were administered yesterday (vaccinations tend to be lower over weekends). 

Global cases update:

• Cases have surpassed 217.21 million, while the death toll has surpassed 4.51 million; recoveries are at 194.11 million.
• The US has 39.66 million cases, accounting for 18% of global cases; the US death toll is 654,689. 
• India has 32.737 million cases and 438,387 deaths; Brazil has 20.74 million cases and 579,330 deaths.
• Australia recorded a record number of new infections even with roughly half its population in lockdown as the Delta variant spreads.
• Japan’s health minister noted that it will be difficult to lift the current state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas when the order expires on 12 September.

Africa cases update:

• Africa’s Covid-19 cases are at 7.81 million; fatalities are at 195,241.
• Morocco has 853,373 reported cases, Nigeria 191,345, Ghana 117,636, Kenya 234,952.

South Africa cases update:

• SA currently has the 17th highest caseload, at 2.764 million; 7,740 new cases were reported yesterday.
• Active cases are at 157,137; KwaZulu Natal leads the way with 62,305 active cases followed by the Western Cape with 29,715.
• Covid-19 deaths rose by 134 yesterday, to 81,595; 2.526 million people (or 91.4%) have recovered from the virus.
• 16.393 million tests have been conducted since 5 March 2020; 45,534 tests were conducted yesterday.
• The positivity rate is 17%.

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