Thread by @JacaNews

Happening now: The acting Health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, together with a panel of experts, will provide an update on the country's response to the #COVID19 pandemic.

#COVID19 | Kubayi begins by giving a brief overview on the country's case load. Yesterday, more than 18,000 new infections were recorded.

-This is a 25.5% positivity rate
-Gauteng accounts for more than 11,000 of these cases

#COVID19 | JUST IN: Kubayi says a new variant has been identified by scientists during sequencing.

She adds the delta variant appears to be dominating the new infections recorded.

#COVID19 | Director of research at UKZN, Professor Tulio de Oliveira will now provide more details about the newly identified delta variant.

The graph below (in green) shows its dominance in KZN and Gauteng and only slightly in the Western Cape.

#COVID19 | De Oliveira gives a summary of the delta variant:
-It's more transmissible (more than double the other variants)
-Likely to overburden health sector
-High risk of reinfection

"The good news is that the vaccines may still be effective against it."

#COVID19 | Professor Koleka Mlisana, co-chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19 says tighter restrictions are needed urgently.

"We need to restrict movement and gatherings but not impacting the vaccination drive."

#COVID19 | Sahpra board chairperson Helen Rees will speak on work done by Sahpra in ensuring emergency approval of vaccines that fit safety and efficacy criteria during the pandemic.

#COVID19 | Rees says the internal team at Sahpra is working around the clock review data vaccine data.

-Sinovac review is at an advanced stage, Sputnik V also far ahead
-Sinopharm application received this week
-Still nothing from Moderna and the Cuban vaccine

#COVID19 | Kubayi responds to questions about a possible move to higher levels of lockdown:

"NCCC met yesterday and will make presentations again tomorrow to NatJoint, thereafter Pres Cyril Ramaphosa will provide a way forward."

#COVID19 | Kubayi: There is a common understanding that the current lockdown regulations are insufficient to deal with the surge in cases, especially in Gauteng.

#COVID19 | In closing, Kubayi criticises the red berets for staging an #EFFMarchToSaveLives in Pretoria yesterday.

"Two wrongs don't make a right."

#COVID19 | Kubayi closes the briefing.