COVID-19 vaccination for elderly persons aged 60 years and older will begin on Monday May 17 where it will be offered free of charge.
Those eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination will be required to register on the electronic vaccination system vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za while an SMS will be sent indicating the venue and date.
Spokesperson for the Department of Health Lebogang Majaha said on Saturday that the designated vaccination site in Kimberley would be Harmony Home.
“During the roll-out more vaccination sites will be identified including clinics and hospitals.”
Meanwhile the Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize cautioned that as of May 14 the Northern Cape had recorded its second highest number of cases at 399 where 454 positive cases were reported on May 13.
The Sol Plaatje municipal district recorded the highest number of infections of 137 cases.
The number of total active cases in the Province is now 5 169.
“The Province cumulative total number of positive cases is currently standing at 43 593 people. Today’s reported cases set another record since the start of the pandemic in the Province. The Province has entered the resurgence period with alarmingly high cases, with a 42 percent increase in new cases over the past seven days,” Mkhize stated.
The Frances Baard district continues to record high infections in the Province where more than 100 cases were reported in the past three consecutive days.
As of May 14 Frances Baard had 157 new cases, followed by Pixley ka Seme with 107, ZF Mgcawu with 68, John Taolo Gaetsewe district with 52 and Namakwa with 14 cases.
No newly recorded Covid-19 related deaths were reported where the total number of deaths in the Province stands at 960.
The recovery rate stands at 87 percent.
It was indicated that 420 people were vaccinated to date in the Province where 9 219 healthcare workers have already been vaccinated so far.
As part of the Covid-19 risk communication and community engagement preparedness and response action plan, the MEC for the Department of Health Maruping Lekwene and acting HOD Riaan Strydom visited Springbok and Bersig areas in the Namakwa District, to encourage people over the age of 60 years, as well as those who are 18 years and older with co-morbidities to vaccinate during phase 2.
During phase 2 of the vaccination programme, essential workers, including police officers, mine workers, security personnel, retail food staff, undertakers, banking personnel, essential municipal workers, those working in home affairs, including border control and port health services, will be vaccinated against Covid-19.
