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

Making headlines: Health department not recommending relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, low vaccine demand could take rollout programme off target and, Zambia counting votes with internet restrictions still in force

Health department not recommending relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said today that with the country’s Covid-19 situation still precarious, the Department of Health will not recommend that the National Coronavirus Council and Cabinet ease Covid-19 restrictions at this stage.

Last month President Cyril Ramaphosa moved the country to Adjusted Alert Level 3 of the country’s lockdown.

On Thursday the country recorded 14 271 new Covid-19 infections and 473 new deaths, bringing the confirmed death toll to 76 247.

Phaahla said while the number of Covid-19 deaths had been dropping it was still unacceptably high.

He noted a reduction in hospital admissions in the country.

Low vaccine demand could take rollout programme off target

Meanwhile, the health department has set the target of fully vaccinating 70% of the adult population to December.

But with only about 10% currently fully vaccinated, the department has a hard time ahead of it, especially in the face of decreasing vaccine demand.

The country has already administered more than nine-million vaccine doses, with over 3.9-million people fully vaccinated as of Thursday.

The department expected that more than four-million people would be fully vaccinated by the end of today.

Around 28-million adults will need to be vaccinated for the country to reach its target.

Zambia counting votes with internet restrictions still in force

Zambia prepared to begin announcing results of a tight presidential election between top contenders President Edgar Lungu and main rival Hakainde Hichilema held amidst restrictions on internet access and violence in three regions.

Use of social media such as WhatsApp is part of everyday life in the southern Africa country and the curbs on access could fuel suspicion about the outcome of the vote, which appeared too close to call.

ECZ chief officer Patrick Nshindano said the commission had started receiving results from all 156 constituencies and would begin announcing them from 3 pm. Full results will be known within 72 hours after the close of polls.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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