During the briefing, Kubayi-Ngubane spoke about the backlog caused by the recent looting and unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. More than 47 000 vaccine doses were lost to looting, she says. 

Last week, during the looting and riots, 120 pharmacies were vandalised. Kubayi-Ngubane says vaccines were stored in these pharmacies. She emphasised negative effects on the long term that came with the unrest, highlighting the fact that many lives are at risk and it had not only impacted the vaccine programme, but also the entire health system. Kubayi-Ngubane says currently the Department of Health has vaccinated 6 million people, but with the current unrest it has disrupted the vaccine programme. She says more people would be able to get vaccinated over weekends, with 1500 volunteers helping out.

Kubayi-Ngubane says that the department is extremely worried and cautious because of the many gatherings that took place during these past two weeks in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. This may cause another surge in numbers. She says many of the looters and those involved in riots had tested positive for Covid-19 whilst in custody. She further appeals to those who were involved in the gatherings to go to the nearest health facility when they have symptoms.

OFM News/ Blaine Jones