Deputy Minister of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo warned on Wednesday that although the number of daily Covid-19 infections was gradually decreasing, day-to-day fluctuation in deaths indicates that South Africa is not completely out of the third wave.

He said some provinces had done very well in controlling infections during the third wave.

According to health officials, South Africa's Covid-19 death toll increased by 282 on Tuesday, bringing the total fatalities to 83 899. To date more than 13-million vaccines have been administered across the country.

Dhlomo said there was no need for government to make the Covid-19 vaccines mandatory, however, he urged citizens to get their jab.

“We do not need to make the vaccines mandatory. It’s voluntary. Come forward and vaccinate. We do not know when we will get the fourth wave. Predictions from scientists is that there will be a fourth wave but we are so determined that the fourth wave will come in December. If it does come, it must find all of us vaccinated,” he stated.

The health department is encouraging more men to get vaccinated, as numbers show that 58% of South Africans who are vaccinated are women while 42% are men.

Dhlomo said the health department was also concerned that an increasing number of people due for their second jab were not going to sites to get vaccinated. He pleaded with those to come forward.

Government opened vaccination to people between the ages of 18 and 34 earlier than anticipated, with the objective of ramping up the vaccinations to reach population immunity.

The country’s daily vaccination target is 250 000. Gauteng is contributing 75 000 of those.

AWARENESS AROUND COVID-19 VACCINES

Gauteng Premier David Makhura said raising public awareness about the importance of vaccinating and addressing all the myths, fears and fake news about Covid-19 vaccines was central to winning the battle against the pandemic.

“Vaccines are the most powerful game changer in our hands. Vaccines are in our hands. And vaccinating is in our hands,” he said.

He added that the country could only fully return to some semblance of normality when between 67% to 80% of the population were vaccinated.

He noted that Gauteng had had a difficult time with the third wave.

“I am glad, Deputy President, that as of yesterday the National Coronavirus Command Council has declared that we are officially out of the third wave as Gauteng province. But being out of the third wave does not mean we must not be careful, it means we must vaccinate more people,” said Makhura.

He reinterated that if the country is to return to some kind of normality and open more sporting and cultural events, more people must be vaccinated.

“We must get the jab on each and everyone’s arm.”