COVID-19: SA surpasses 1.5 million infections as vaccine rollout continues

South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, with the country nearly having vaccinated 120 000 people, the majority of whom are healthcare workers. 

The latest COVID-19 figures released by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday evening show that 118 247 people have now received the jab in South Africa, while a grim milestone was reached as the country surpassed 1.5 million confirmed infections since March 2020. 

SA hits 1.5 million cases

In addition to the latest vaccination figures, Mkhize announced the latest COVID-19 case and death figures on Monday 22 February 2021, saying that across the country, cases have increased by 991 in the last 24-hours, meaning that the total number of infections that have been accumulatively reported since March 2020 has risen to 1 522 697. 

Sadly, over the last 24-hours alone, a further 103 people have died from COVID-19, meaning that a total of 50 906 people have succumbed to the virus since the first death in March 2020. 

He also reported that there have been a total of 1 444 282 recoveries, leaving SA’s recovery rate at 94.8%, with a cumulative total of tests having been conducted since the process began. 

Provincial COVID-19 case breakdown Wednesday 10 March

The following confirmed COVID-19 cases have been recorded in each province as of Wednesday 10 March: 

• Eastern Cape – 1 941 147 cases
• Free State – 80 787 cases; 
• Gauteng – 407 289 cases; 
• KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) – 330 863 cases; 
• Limpopo – 62 375 cases; 
• Mpumalanga – 72 126 cases; 
• North West – 61 645 cases; 
• Northern Cape – 34 407cases; 
• Western Cape – 279 058 cases; and
• Unallocated –  0 cases.

The Eastern Cape remains the province worst affected by the deadly virus, with Gauteng leading in vaccine rollouts ahead of the Western Cape.