SA records 847 new COVID-19 cases, 67 fatalities

The country has also recorded 67 new COVID-19 related fatalities, taking the national death toll to 53 423.

“Eastern Cape 8, Free State 9, Gauteng 28, Kwa-Zulu Natal 0, Limpopo 0, Mpumalanga 0, North West 19, Northern Cape 2 and Western Cape 1,” says the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, in a statement.

The number of tests conducted to date is 10 181 143. Of these, 26 165 tests were completed since the
last report.

The recovery rate remains at 95% with 1 485 315 South Africans having beaten the virus.

Earlier, the Health Minister urged South Africans to continue to take non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 precautions for COVID-19 to delay a resurgence of infections.

The call followed the suspension of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine rollout in the country on Tuesday night.

Minister Mkhize’s briefing on suspension of J&J vaccine in SA:

We have determined to voluntarily suspend our rollout until the causal relationship between the development of clots and the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is sufficiently interrogated. pic.twitter.com/qYq50IvV9L

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) April 13, 2021

The country’s move followed America’s decision to pause the use of the vaccine.

Sherwin Bryce-Pease unpacks the US’ decision in the video below: