SA eases to adjusted lockdown Level 2

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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