Healthcare workers administer the first batch of Johnson and Johnson vaccines at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, 17 February 2021, as health workers receive the first jabs of the vaccine in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: Michel Bega
As of Saturday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is 1 632 571, with 4,236 new cases recorded since the last report, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced.
The country also recorded 53 more deaths: 1 from Eastern Cape, 17 from Free State, 27 from Gauteng, 5 from KwaZulu-Natal and 3 from Western Cape.
This brings the total number of deaths to 55 772.
“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients,” said Mkhize.
The total number of people who were vaccinated under the Sisonke Programme is 480 665, while phase 2 has vaccinated 162 280 people.
Italy on Saturday passed the milestone of 30 million doses injected in its Covid-19 vaccination effort, with nearly 10 million people in the country now fully vaccinated.
More than 9.85 million people in Italy have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, according to government figures, representing 16.6 percent of the 60 million-strong population.
Two thirds of the doses administered so far in Italy have gone to those aged over 60.
Hit hard by the pandemic in early 2020, Italy has suffered 125,153 Covid-19 deaths — the highest official toll in Europe after Britain, with 128,000 deaths.
Since April 26 Italy has been cautiously relaxing months-long coronavirus restrictions, with bars and restaurants now serving customers outdoors.
The latest data has been promising, with health authorities on Saturday reporting 125 Covid deaths over the past 24 hours — three times less than a month ago.
The positivity rate of some 300,000 Covid tests carried out over the same period has meanwhile dropped to 1.6 percent, the lowest in 2021.
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