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The National Health Department said it was engaging Eastern Cape Health authorities to investigate the details of Covid19 reporting backlogs in the province.
This, after Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, said in his latest report on Wednesday that 844 deaths were reported in a 24-hour period, with 452 coming from the province.
“The 452 deaths reported from the Eastern Cape are as a result of data reconciliation dating between May and November 2020. This includes analysis of community cases where post-mortem swabs were taken for COVID testing and analysis of clinical records where the diagnosis was unconfirmed at the time of demise,” Minister Mkhize said.
He said the National Department of Health was engaging the Eastern Cape government to investigate the details of the reporting backlog.
Mkhize said South Africa recorded 21 832 new cases since the last report, with the recovery rate at 80.8%. There are 188 984 active cases currently, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the government’s vaccine roll-out plan in the Parliamentary spotlight on Thursday when Minister Mkhize, is scheduled to brief the Portfolio Committee on Health on government's vaccine roll-out programme.
This, amid mounting calls for the government to speed-up the acquisition of vaccine stocks ahead of the second quarter when the first batches are expected from Covax.
Democratic Alliance MP, Siviwe Gwarube, said Minister Mkhize would be held to account for the various issues that came to light with the procurement process.
She said they want more detailed answers on the government's roll-out plans.
Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus, says it's concerned about the possible chaos that, according to media reports, may ensue in the medical sector regarding South Africa's plans to vaccinate against the virus.
MP, Phillip van Staden, said this is the last thing the country needs at this stage and it must be avoided at all costs.
He said the Portfolio Committee on Health must be kept up to date at all times so that Members of Parliament can effectively fulfill their oversight role and communicate with the voters.
