South Africa records 24,000 new COVID-19 cases

South Africa has recorded more than 24,000 cases of COVID-19, its highest tally of new infections since the pandemic began, as a third wave of the virus spread through a population in which just 5% have been vaccinated.

According to the government data, South Africa has recorded just over 2 million cases and more than 60,000 deaths during the pandemic, while 3.3 million people have been vaccinated out of a population of just under 60 million.

The surge in cases in Africa’s most industrialised nation has overwhelmed hospitals and left overworked healthcare personnel struggling to find enough beds for critically ill patients.

The South African Medical Association threatened to take the government to court because more than 200 new junior doctors cannot find placements despite desperate staff shortages.

The country’s low vaccination rate is due to a combination factors, the government destroyed 2 million contaminated Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

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Kamila/Reuters