Author: Staff Writer

South Africa has recorded 2 226 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 603 856.

The increase represents a 9.5% positivity rate.

The Department of Health has reported 117 deaths and of these, 15 occurred in the past 24 – 48 hours. This brings the total fatalities to 95 022 to date.

The department says there has been an increase of 23 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a division of the National Health Laboratory Service, says it continues to provide laboratory-based surveillance to inform the public health response towards COVID-19 in South Africa.

With regard to the tests conducted, 22 251 589 tests were conducted in both public and private sectors.

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#COVID19 UPDATE: 23,347 tests were conducted in the last 24hrs, with 2,226 new cases, representing an 9.5% positivity rate. Today, @HealthZA reports 117 deaths, of which 15 occurred in the past 24-48 hours. Total fatalities are 95,022 to date. More here: https://t.co/oZeV18TGgN pic.twitter.com/jeaHJPtYfz

— NICD (@nicd_sa) January 30, 2022

Photo: Unsplash

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that digital learning is required now, not in the future, says Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

Delivering closing remarks at the end of the three-day Basic Education Sector Lekgotla held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Motshekga said there is a need to provide all learners with the necessary assistive devices, increased human resources and ICTs for learning, teaching, and school management.

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Photo: GCIS

Despite facing “less than ideal circumstances,” Eskom is making good strides towards sustainability and energy security.

These were the words of Eskom Chief Executive Andre de Ruyter during a media briefing on the state of South Africa’s electricity system.

The country has not faced load shedding since mid-November last year.

Unplanned outages, which have previously wreaked havoc on the electricity supply, currently stand at about 9392MW.

“This is the lowest that it’s been in a very, very long time and that’s a very positive reflection on the performance of our system. I think we are starting to see the results of the intervention of [power station managers] as a leadership team,” he said on Thursday.

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#Eskom #MediaStatement

Eskom makes major strides in its operational recovery process, cautions the path to sustainability will be long and hard pic.twitter.com/cmD0af00bi

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) January 27, 2022

Photo: Eskom

South Africa conducted 38 912 COVID-19 tests on Thursday, with 4 100 new cases, representing a 10.5% positivity rate.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health reported 160 deaths, of which 34 occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD),  the majority of new cases are from Gauteng after 1 170 tested positive, followed by 620 in KwaZulu-Natal,  550 in the Western Cape and 484 in Limpopo.

This means the country now has 3 594 499 laboratory-confirmed cases and 94 651 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

In addition, hospital admissions have increased by 152 to 5 866 since the last reporting cycle, while South Africa currently has 67 019 active cases.

Meanwhile, the department vaccinated 71 695 COVID-19 vaccine doses, bringing the total to 29 402 542.

In addition, there are now 16 403 387 fully jabbed adults, while 1 195 984 shots have been administered to children aged between 12 and 17.

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#COVID19 UPDATE: 38,912 tests were conducted in the last 24hrs, with 4,100 new cases, representing an 10.5% positivity rate. Today, @HealthZA reports 160 deaths, of which 34 occurred in the past 24-48 hours. Total fatalities are 94,651 to date. More here: https://t.co/pC0TwxuVQ1 pic.twitter.com/FcQ023wJNO

— NICD (@nicd_sa) January 27, 2022

Photo: Unsplash

Alderman Conrad Poole, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, has commended the Matric Class of 2021 on the success achieved by the learners, educators, administrators and parents in a challenging school year aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alderman Poole congratulated Drakenstein’s matriculants and said they have shown that perseverance, hard work and discipline will always be a recipe for success.

“You guys have made us proud. You refused to buckle under the pressure that came with a disrupted school year brought about by COVID-19.

“Good luck with your future endeavours. To those who did not make it, do not despair. Be brave enough to try again and I am sure that success will be the reward for your courage.”

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Photo: Facebook

Young people in South Africa have been urged to explore the post-matric opportunities provided by both government and the private sector.

There are many alternatives that are available for those who want to improve their matric results, those who want to re-write and those who want to work after matric.

Khanyisile Cele, from the Career Development Service at the Department of Higher Education and Training, said learners need to be aware that career guidance services are available to them free of charge.

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Photo: Unsplash