The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has on Thursday reported 9 203 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 796 405.
This increase represents a 16.1% positivity rate. As per the national Department of Health, a further 418 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 82 914 to date.
The 16 593 467 tests have been conducted in both public and private sectors as per the table below.
Loading…
The institution continues the monitoring and surveillance of COVID-19 in order to inform the public health response.
COVID-19 variant
Earlier the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) Chair, Professor Helen Rees said the new COVID-19 variant, the C.1.2 variant, is being monitored to ensure that vaccines remain effective against it.
SAHPRA appeared before Parliament’s Health Committee on Wednesday to discuss the efficacy of vaccines, among other things.
The latest variant, which has been found in eight provinces, has also been detected elsewhere in the world.
Discussing new mutation of the COVID-19 virus circulating in SA: Prof Tulio Oliveira
