Over 10,173 new coronavirus cases have been recorded within the past 24 hours, The Delta-driven third wave seems to be taking a spike. The health department also announced 274 more COVID-related deaths, bringing the overall death toll in the country to 81,461.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla, speaking during his department’s weekly live update, said the third wave was dragging for much longer than the primary wave and therefore the second wave of infections with the average COVID-19 positivity rate, is still very high averaging between 19% and 20%.

The government, along with the department of health, has urged the public to get vaccinated in order for the third wave to not overlap into  fourth wave. South Africa has vaccinated over 11.6 million people thus far, with the target set to vaccinate 70% of the population by December.

On 28 August, 2.2 million Pfizer vaccine doses donated by the United States (US) through the Covax facility, started arriving in the country, adding to the 5.6 million doses sent back in July