GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - In the past week, 9 to 16 March, 102 new Covid-19 cases and nine Covid-related deaths were recorded in the Garden Route.
As at Tuesday 16 March there are 310 recorded active cases in the district: 149 in George, 95 in Oudtshoorn, 24 in Mossel Bay, 13 in Hessequa, 19 in Knysna, 10 in Kannaland and none in Bitou.
This total is slightly up from 301 recorded active cases a week ago. Two weeks ago there were 350.
Western Cape procuring own vaccines
The Western Cape Government will be procuring its own vaccines. It made available R75-million for this purpose in the 2021/22 budget announced this week.
Finance Minister David Maynier said in his speech that the province is facing "unprecedented uncertainty" and it will have major cost implications.
Province does not know:
- When it will receive more vaccines from national government;
- How many vaccines it will receive from national government;
- Whether it will receive single-shot or double-shot vaccines; and
- Which vaccines will be approved by the regulator.
- "We also do not know the time, the location and the magnitude of a possible third wave in the Western Cape."
He announced a 'war chest' of R2,17-billion to defeat the virus in the province.
Pfizer vaccine
Sahpra (South African Health Products Regulatory Authority) announced on Tuesday that it has approved the emergency use (approval valid for six months) of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
It said the approval is subject to continuous monitoring of the vaccine's efficacy and safety while it is being rolled out in South Africa.
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