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

Making headlines: Delta variant more transmissible, Government launches Charlotte Maxeke Women’s Initiative and Data show J&J vaccine works well against Delta variant

Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said today that the Covid-19 situation remains of great concern as the new Delta variant dominates the third wave of infections in the country.

South Africa recorded 21 584 new confirmed Covid-19 infections and 382 deaths, bringing the official death toll to 61 029 in the last 24 hours.

The Delta variant, first sampled in India last year, has spread to 85 countries and Kubayi-Ngubane says there is evidence that it is more transmissible than other variants.

While the Delta variant is quickly becoming the dominant variant in the country, the Alpha and Beta variants are still prevalent and spreading.

Government launches Charlotte Maxeke Women’s Initiative

The South African government has launched the Charlotte Maxeke Women’s Initiative on Economic Justice and Rights as part of its pledge to support gender equality.

President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement during the virtual Generation Equality Forum: Economic Justice and Rights Action Coalition this week in Paris where he led South Africa’s participation to highlight the country’s commitment to gender equality.

The Gender Equality Forum is a global gathering to accelerate gender equality actions and marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Inspired by one of the pioneers of women’s empowerment in South Africa, Ramaphosa said that the Charlotte Maxeke Women’s Initiative would involve collaborative projects to increase opportunities for women and girls in entrepreneurship, leadership and diplomacy.

Data show J&J vaccine works well against Delta variant

Data from laboratory studies show Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine works well against the Delta variant that now dominates new infections in South Africa, the head of the country's Medical Research Council said.

President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council Professor Glenda Gray said data indicates a good immediate and sustained immune response against Delta.

She said there is a surprising durability in the immune response for the single dose J&J right up to eight months.

South Africa is using the J&J and Pfizer vaccines in its immunisation campaign.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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