This, as the province expects its first batch of vaccines next week. Addressing members of the media earlier on Thursday, Saul confirmed they are expecting to vaccinate 14 000 healthcare workers both in the public and private sector as part of the phase 1 roll-out plan. 

He announced that the Electronic Vaccine Data System has been formally launched, for healthcare workers only at this stage, as part of the first phase of the rollout plan. Saul confirmed there are few areas that are of great concern in the province and they are carefully looking at the number of infections reported in those areas.

These include Phokwane in the Frances Baard District, Gamagara, and Gasegonyana in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, Emthanjeni, Siyathemba and Siyancuma in the Pixley ka Seme District, Kgatelopele and Dawid Kruiper in the ZF Mgcawu District, as well as Nama Khoi and Hantam in the Namakwa District.

The province currently has a total of 32 184 positive Covid-19 cases, 595 deaths and 27 699 recoveries. Saul has explained that whilst nobody will be forced to take vaccines, it should be noted that the vaccines are the best defence against serious infections.

Saul announced that the estimated rollout for the first phase is a total number of 9 450 doses of the vaccine and that the plan is to complete vaccination of all frontline/patient-facing government staff by the end of March 2021. He said the private health sector will run a parallel vaccination process.

“We are calling on our citizens to continue adhering to the Covid-19 measures and not to let their guard down,” he added.

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