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

Making headlines: Covid-19: Free State authorities alarmed by 'rapid rise' in cases, Covid-19: SA records 13 992 new infections and 11 new deaths and, Ghana to fine airlines $3 500 for each unvaccinated passenger

Covid-19: Free State authorities alarmed by 'rapid rise' in cases

The Free State Department of Health "is alarmed by the rapid rise" of Covid-19 cases in the province.

It says cases have increased in the Mangaung, Lejweleputswa, Fezile Dabi, Thabo Mofutsanyana and Xhariep municipalities.

Department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi says the rapid rise in numbers precedes the projected fourth wave of infections, with Omicron emerging as a new variant of concern that is understood to be spreading faster than previous variants.

The province has recorded 173 348 cases, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

The Free State is connected to five national key roads and borders six other provinces.

Covid-19: SA records 13 992 new infections and 11 new deaths

South Africa recorded 13 992 new Covid-19 cases on Monday and 11 new deaths, raising the death toll to 90 148, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

The number of new cases represents a 31% positivity rate, an NICD statement shows.

Most of the new cases are from Gauteng, at 48%, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, at 19%.

As of Monday, the country recorded more than three-million laboratory-confirmed cases.

Gauteng is the most impacted, with 1 069 565 cases in total, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, with 543 045, and the Western Cape, with 537 553.

Ghana to fine airlines $3 500 for each unvaccinated passenger

Ghana has said it will fine airlines $3 500 for each passenger who arrives in the capital’s international airport without being fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Under new measures taking effect on Wednesday, air carriers will also be penalised the same amount for travellers who did not fill out a health declaration form before boarding their flight to Kotoka International Airport, in Accra, the State-owned Ghana Airport Company said.

The measures are just the latest taken by Ghana, which has introduced some of the strictest coronavirus-related restrictions in West Africa.

The new penalties come a day after the country began requiring all passengers over the age of 18 to provide evidence of full vaccination against Covid-19.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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