For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: DA leader says government must resign in shame, S Africa looking to roll out AstraZeneca jab in ‘stepped manner’ and SA records 1 376 new infections and 183 new deaths

DA leader says government must resign in shame

DA leader John Steenhuisen has said that the South African government should resign in shame for its failure to handle the coronavirus pandemic, economic crisis and for compromising the country’s democracy.

In what he called the “true state of the nation”, ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on Thursday, Steenhuisen said the country is in crisis and called for Ramaphosa to address this on Thursday.

Speaking on Covid-19, Steenhuisen said the only way out of the pandemic is a massive vaccine roll-out and added that the country needed urgent, bold and brave economic reform.              

He said that the country was also in a crisis of democracy following recent testimony out of the State capture commission of inquiry, led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

S Africa looking to roll out AstraZeneca jab in ‘stepped manner’

South Africa is looking to roll out the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in a “stepped manner” to assess its ability to prevent severe illness, according to a key adviser to the country’s government.

On Sunday, almost a week after receiving its first one-million doses, the continent’s hardest-hit country said it would put on hold its use of the vaccine after research showed it was only minimally effective in preventing mild-to-moderate illness against a variant of the coronavirus now dominant in South Africa.

South Africa paused its roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine for now while determining the next steps, and could vaccinate 100 000 people with the shot to see how well it works on preventing hospitalisations and deaths.

SA records 1 376 new infections and 183 new deaths

South Africa recorded 1 376 new Covid-19 infections as of Monday, along with 183 new confirmed Covid-19-related deaths.

According to a statement by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, the country had a cumulative total of 1 477 511 cases and 46 473 deaths.

Gauteng remains the most affected province with 26.7% of the confirmed cases, translating to 394 629 cases.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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