Phaahla concerned about the decline in COVID-19 vaccinations

Health Minister, Joe Phaahla has raised concerns about the decline in the uptake of  COVID-19 vaccinations in the last few days.

Briefing the media on Friday morning, Phaahla says this will have a negative impact on the fight against the Omicron coronavirus variant.

He says the omicron variant has been reported in over 70 countries.

Phaahla has appealed to the public to get vaccinated before heading to festive holidays.

“We are very worried about the drastic decline in the uptake of vaccination especially in the last 7 to ten days. There was an uptake immediately after the announcement of the new variant but the numbers have gone down quite drastically,” Says Phaahla.

Health ministry briefs media on the national vaccination rollout program:

The average number of daily cases over 20 000 in SA’s fourth COVID-19 wave: Phaahla

Phaahla says South Africa is in the fourth wave of the coronavirus with all provinces recording infections.

He says the recovery rate from the variant is still high.

“The positivity rate has also risen steeply across the country and with yesterday’s (Thursday) average positivity rate of 31%. Eight provinces recorded a positivity rate of 30% or above. With only Gauteng only province which was below 30% of positivity at 25%. In this wave, the average number of daily cases is upwards of 20 000 but hospital admissions are below 400,” says Phaahla .

 INFOGRAPHIC: COVID-19 Statistics in SA: