The Health Ministry announced that 165 new deaths have also been recorded, taking the SA’s total number of Covid-19-related deaths to 48 478.

Eastern Cape – 15

Free State – 22

Gauteng – 76

KwaZulu-Natal – 14

Mpumalanga – 4

Northern Cape – 9

Western Cape – 25

“The cumulative total of tests conducted to date is 8 772 743 with 35 413 new tests recorded since the last report. Our recoveries now stand at 1 399 829, representing a recovery rate of 93,5%,” the Ministry confirmed.

Meanwhile, the various provinces are expected to roll out their Covid-19 vaccines this week. Last night, SA’s batch of 80 000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines arrived at the OR International Airport.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and five healthcare workers were among the first group of people to be vaccinated against the coronavirus which has claimed the lives of more than two million people around the world.

Both Gauteng and the Western Cape kicked off their vaccination programmes on Wednesday and KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala and KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu are expected to launch the province’s Covid-19 vaccine roll-out plan on Thursday at the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in uMlazi.

IOL