Category: COVID-19 Corona Virus

US President Joe Biden has announced the lifting of travel restrictions imposed on Southern African countries following the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant last month.

The travel ban is expected to be officially lifted on Friday morning.

The variant was announced by South African scientists at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) and led to countries swiftly closing their borders to South Africa.

“Since I issued that [travel ban], [American] health officials, in collaboration with the South African scientists who originally reported the variant, have made substantial progress in understanding the Omicron variant.

“In light of these changed circumstances, and based on the recommendation of the CDC, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to revoke [the ban].  The travel restrictions imposed by that proclamation are no longer necessary to protect public health,” he said.

The travel ban was also extended to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Biden explained that the travel ban was aimed at slowing the spread of the variant and enable the US to implement measures to fight the variant.

“On the same day that the World Health Organisation classified the Omicron variant as a variant of concern…I issued [travel restrictions].  That proclamation generally suspended and restricted the entry into the United States of non-citizens of the United States who were physically present within [Southern Africa].

“I took that action to slow the spread of the Omicron variant into the United States and to enable the United States to implement appropriate mitigation measures while new information emerged about the variant,” Biden said.

South Africa has detected 21 157 new COVID-19 infections, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Thursday.

According to the latest data, most of the cases were recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (5 241), Western Cape (4 597) and Gauteng (4 206).

This means there are now 3 374 262 laboratory-confirmed cases since the outbreak. The positivity rate currently stands at 29.1%.

The Department of Health said 75 more people lost their lives to COVID-19 complications, pushing the death toll to 90 662 since the outbreak.

In addition, there are now 9 202 patients receiving hospital treatment due to the respiratory disease after 411 were admitted in the past 24 hours.

The department announced that it administered 42 015 COVID-19 vaccines, 7 620 of which were given to children between the ages of 12 and 17.

This pushes the number of distributed vaccines since the start of the rollout programme to 27 778 860.

The latest data show that 15 488 743 (or 38.92%) adults are now fully jabbed in South Africa, while 17 747 890 over 18s have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccines administered locally.

So far, 881 120 vaccines have been given to children aged between 12 and 17.

Globally, as of 23 December 2021, there have been 276 436 619 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5 374 744 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation.

The South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) has approved the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) booster shot to be taken at least two months after the original dose for adults over the age of 18.

In addition, the local drug watchdog has also authorised the heterologous booster, also known as mix-and-match jabs, for those who had the Pfizer jab at least after six months after the second dose.

“The dosing interval for the heterologous booster dose is the same as that authorised for a booster dose of the vaccine used for primary vaccination,” said SAHPRA.

SAHPRA initially registered the J&J vaccine with conditions on 30 March 2021, in terms of section 15 of the Medicines and Related Substance Act (Act 101 of 1965).

On 10 December 2021, SAHPRA received an application to amend the dosing schedule for the J&J vaccine, allowing for a second dose at least two months after primary vaccination, and the use of heterologous booster immunisation following completion of primary vaccination with an approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

“SAHPRA reviewed the safety and efficacy data provided, and has subsequently approved the COVID-19 vaccines Janssen second dose/booster dose,” SAHPRA said.

This comes after SAHPRA approved the administering of the third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for adults and children with a weak immune system.

This means all adults in South Africa are now eligible for an additional shot six months after the second dose, and it may be given at any point after that time.

The Health Department’s Deputy Director-General, Dr Nicholas Crisp, told media earlier this month that the first qualifiers for the booster shot will be eligible on 28 December.

“That is a couple of days before New Year’s, so we do not envisage introducing a major new programme on New Year’s Day or thereabout.

“So, from January, once the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Vaccines (VMAC) has aligned with this approval, we will get the recommendation and plan the appropriate rollout of boosters at that time,” he said.

According to the department’s data, since the start of the Sisonke programme, 230 488 second doses of the J&J vaccines have been distributed to healthcare workers who took part in the original study.

Scientists from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) wastewater surveillance team are reporting a decline in concentrations of COVID-19 fragments in the majority of wastewater treatment plants.

“We are seeing this pattern of levelling or declining concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments in 89% of the wastewater treatment plants we are monitoring in urban areas including Buffalo City, Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Professor Angela Mathee, who is a member of the team.

In addition, she said 97% of wastewater treatment plants in rural areas in Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape are also showing a similar pattern.

The SAMRC’s wastewater surveillance team undertakes weekly sampling and analysis of wastewater from 72 wastewater treatment plants located in urban and rural areas across four provinces to support the management of COVID-19 in South Africa. These are situated in Gauteng, Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

“The declining concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments in wastewater corroborate what we’re seeing with COVID-19 cases around the country,” said Dr Renée Street, who plays a lead role in the team.

She cautioned, however, that while the levels of COVID-19 fragments are declining, they remain high and a cause for public health concern.

SAMRC President Glenda Gray has described this decrease as “very encouraging”.

“But this should not be viewed as an indication that we may drop our guard,” she warned.

Gray said human behaviour such as wearing masks, avoiding crowds and gatherings, holding essential gatherings outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces and hand hygiene are pivotal in controlling COVID-19 waves.

She also urged all to persist with these recommended and effective practices, especially during the current holiday season.

The Professor called on the nation to vaccinate, and for those who are eligible to take booster shots.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Thursday that there has been a decrease in daily case numbers and percentage of people testing positive in Gauteng.

In addition, the NICD said infections are dropping in Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga.

South Africa reported 21 099 new daily Coronavirus cases, the highest since the week began.

This means the country now has 3 353 106 confirmed cases, while the death toll stands at 90 587 after 99 more people lost their lives.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), KwaZulu-Natal, which is currently the epicentre of the fourth wave, accounted for 5 411 new infections.

It is followed by the Western Cape with 4 609 cases, 3 807 in Gauteng and 2 327 in the Eastern Cape.

“This increase represents a 30.6% positivity rate,” the NICD said on Wednesday, adding that the seven-day average was 29.8%, lower than the 30.1% that was recorded on Tuesday.

In addition, 9 324 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalised, of which 593 were admitted in the past 24 hours.

According to the Department of Health, the cumulative number of people who have beat COVID-19 stands at 3 052 399, translating to a recovery rate of 91%.

Meanwhile, the department announced that it administered 58 349 new COVID-19 vaccines, of which 34 642 were first doses of either Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

This pushes the number of distributed vaccines since the start of the rollout programme to 27 733 331.

The latest data show that 15 463 240 or 38.85% adults are now fully jabbed in South Africa, while 17 728 079 over 18s have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccines administered locally.

So far, 873 570 vaccines have been given to children aged between 12 and 17. Of these, 11 496 were administered since the last reporting cycle.

KwaZulu-Natal is now the epicentre of COVID-19 after the majority (or 2 496) new infections were detected in the province on Monday.

On Sunday, the province also recorded the highest number of infections after 4 135 people tested positive for the disease.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), overall, 8 515 new COVID-19 infections were identified in South Africa, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 316 585.

Gauteng logged 1 890 new infections, followed by 1 625 in the Western Cape, 651 in the Eastern Cape and 601 in the North West, while the rest of the provinces registered less than 500 cases.

The latest data show the peak represents a positivity rate of 29.9%.

Citing the Department of Health, the NICD said 105 COVID-19 related fatalities have been reported, bringing the death toll to 90 453 since the outbreak.

In addition, 8 435 patients are currently in hospital for Coronavirus, with 328 being admitted in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the country administered 71 874 new COVID-19 vaccines, 15 213 of which were given to children.

This means there are now 27 599 038 doses that have been distributed since the start of the vaccination programme, while 15 389 994 (or 38.67%) adults are fully jabbed.

According to the department, there have been 848 172 jabs distributed to children between the ages of 12 and 17.

Globally, as of 320 December 2021, there have been 273 900 334 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5 351 812 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation.

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has urged people to take the COVID-19 jab in their numbers during the festive season after announcing that vaccination sites will remain open over the holiday period.

“We also call upon South Africans to celebrate this festive season with a lot of caution, especially with regard to alcohol consumption,” Phaahla said on Friday.

“Our health facilities are already under a lot of pressure with the COVID-19 as we indicated a 70% rise in admissions and we’re least ready to handle large numbers of casualties, from motor vehicle accidents and also interpersonal violence.”

He told the media that healthcare workers are physically and emotionally exhausted after nearly two years into the pandemic.

“So we plead to think of them as we celebrate this festive season,” he said.

“On behalf of the people of our country express our gratitude to all our health workers who continue to sacrifice their own lives and those of their families and their lives while caring for all of us.”

He said citizens should honour frontline workers by ensuring they celebrate the festive season responsibly and by getting the jab.

The Minister expressed dismay about the “drastic” decline in the uptake of vaccination, especially in the last seven to 10 days. “There was an uptick immediately after the announcement of the new variant, but the numbers have gone down quite drastically.”

On average, the department has been administering between 100 000 and 130 000 during midweek. According to Phaahla, this was a far cry from the target to reach at least over 250 000 people per day.

“We are well short of vaccine coverage for us to reach population immunity and protect the nation.”

He also warned that COVID-19 remains very active, as the number of new infections and hospitalisations continues to rise.

On Thursday, the country recorded over 24 000 new COVID-19 cases..

Once again, Phaahla said a reliable weapon against COVID-19 is the lifesaving jab.

“Many of us will be moving from places of work in the cities to our rural places and holiday destinations. We’ll be celebrating Christmas and New Year with relatives and friends who will be travelling for many hours in private cars, taxis, buses, trains and airplanes.”

He has called on holidaymakers to adhere to health and safety measures as they travel.

“Above all precautions, we should get our jab before we go on jolling and jab before you jive and ensure that we’re fully vaccinated.”

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, there is an increasing number of new daily infections and positivity rate in all provinces, except Gauteng.

NICD’s Head of Public Health Surveillance and Response, Dr Michelle Groome said Omicron was the dominant strain in November.

“There’s also an increase in hospitalisations in all provinces,” she said, adding that there has been a peak in deaths in all provinces but in the Northern Cape and Western Cape.

Regardless of the variant, Groome said vaccination, mask-wearing, social distancing and limiting large gatherings would curb the spread of the virus.

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says COVID-19 infections during the fourth wave have exceeded the previous peaks reached in the previous resurgences.

According to the Minister, the fourth wave, driven by the Omicron variant, has continued to spread rapidly across South Africa and has already been detected in at least 76 countries globally.

“In our country, all nine provinces are essentially in the fourth wave, although the Northern Cape is technically just about to enter fully.”

While Gauteng remains the hardest-hit province, Phaahla said infections have risen rapidly in the coastal provinces and the rest of the country.

This, according to the Minister, has resulted in Gauteng accounting for 25% of new infections on Thursday, compared to between 70% and 80% of cases about 10 days ago.

Infections rise

Phaahla said the number of cases in the fourth wave has exceeded the peaks of the three waves, with a weekly average of new infections of more than 37 per 100 000 of the population.

This is compared to the peak of the third wave, which was about 33 per 100 000; the second wave 32 per 100 000 and the first wave 21 per 100 000.

“The positivity rate has also risen steeply across the country, with yesterday’s average of 31% positive,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Phaahla said eight provinces recorded a positivity rate of 30% and above, with only Gauteng below 30%, at 25%.

The latest data shows that in the last seven days, new cases have risen by 36.6%.

The Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and the Northern Cape have shown more than 100% increase in daily new cases compared to seven days earlier, which confirms a rapid increase nationwide.

As of Thursday, the country had 210 635 active cases, translating to a 10% increase in 24 hours.

“The good news is the recovery rate is at 91%,” the Minister said.

Hospital admissions

On the other hand, the country is now seeing a significant rise in hospital admissions.

“Over the last seven days, there has been a 70% rise in admissions, even though total admissions as of yesterday were still low at 7 614,” said Phaahla.

In comparison to the fourth wave, weekly average hospital admissions were significantly lower than the average weekly admissions in the third wave during the first two weeks of each wave.

“Although there is a rapid rise in hospitalisation, the majority are mild [cases],” said Phaahla.

Gauteng

Meanwhile, the Minister said Gauteng is on a downward trend in terms of infections and percentage of testing positive.

“Early indications suggest that the peak has been reached, but there is a rapid increase in the other provinces.”

He cautioned that the mildness of disease may not mean that the virus is less “virulent”, but due to the significant vaccine coverage of over 60s at 66% and over 50s at 61%, and the national adult coverage of 44%.

Severity of illness

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), there has been a decrease in patients who needed oxygen in the past few weeks.

“It’s been lower than it was in comparison with any of the previous waves,” said the NICD’s Dr Waasila Jassat.

In addition, she said fewer patients are relying on ventilation.

“In the last few weeks, a lower proportion of patients in both the public and private sectors have been admitted in critical care wards during their hospital stay.”

For the first time, Jassat also noted that there are more non-severe patients in hospital compared to the first three resurgences.

“The case fatality ratio increases in the peaks of each wave in both the public and the private sectors. In the last few weeks, it declined and has been lower than before.”

However, Jassat raised concerns about a very sharp rise in cases, which may lead to a rise in hospitalisations that may overwhelm the health system.

While children accounted for 35% of admissions in the early fourth wave, the doctor said that number has already started to decrease.

In addition, she said most admissions are among unvaccinated people.

South Africa registered 24 785 new COVID-19 cases, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Thursday.

According to the NICD, Gauteng continues to record the highest number of infections after 6 744 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. It is followed by 5 821 cases in KwaZulu-Natal, 4 599 in the Western Cape and 2 248 in the Eastern Cape.

This means the country now has a tally of 3 255 816 confirmed cases since the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the death toll linked to COVID-19 has now risen to 90 262 after 36 more people lost their lives to the virus.

In addition, the public health institute said there are 7 614 people who are currently receiving hospital treatment, with 347 being admitted in the past 24 hours.

The Department of Health announced that it has administered 12 558 jabs in the last 24 hours, 3 543 of which were given to children.

This pushes the total number of distributed doses to 27 422 495, while 15 290 432 or 38.1% adults are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, a total of 814 501 vaccine doses have been given to children between the ages of 12 and 17.

The department reported that it has already administered 6 845 booster shots to immunocompromised people.

Globally, as of 16 December 2021, there have been 271 376 643 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5 324 969 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation.

The South African government, through the African Renaissance Fund (ARF), has signed an agreement with the African Vaccination Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to donate 2 030 400 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, valued at R288.6 million, to African countries.

AVAT was formed following the establishment of the African Union’s COVID-19 African Vaccination Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) in November 2020 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as the then Chairperson of the AU.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the South African government and AVAT said the main purpose of the task team is to secure the necessary vaccines and financing resources for achieving Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy, which targets vaccinating a minimum of 60% of the continent’s population.

The donation by the South African government will be produced at the Aspen manufacturing plant in Gqeberha, operated by Aspen Pharma.

The vaccine will be made available to African countries through the African Medical Suppliers Platform (AMSP) over the next year.

“The donation embodies South Africa’s solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the continent, with whom we are united in fighting an unprecedented threat to public health and economic prosperity.

“The only way in which we can prevent COVID-19 transmission and protect economies and societies on our continent, is to successfully immunise a critical mass of the African population with safe and effective vaccines,” President Ramaphosa said.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, said while serving as Chair of the African Union, South Africa had initiated a coordinated African response that focused on addressing immediate challenges to public health systems, and mitigating the economic and humanitarian crisis arising from the pandemic.

This includes the establishment of a COVID-19 Response Fund and the launch of the African Medical Supplies Platform to ensure all countries have access to the necessary equipment and supplies.

African Union Special Envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, said this generous donation from the people of South Africa would be distributed directly to the lowest income member States as quickly as possible.

“As AVAT, we have already received and distributed over 100 million doses of donated vaccines, most of which came as a result of President Ramaphosa’s tireless efforts with the richest nations like the United States, EU and France.

“In addition, AVAT has entered into direct purchase of over 500 million doses, mostly produced in South Africa,” Masiyiwa said.