The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa has risen to 12 739, with 19 deaths reported over the past 24 hours, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday.
THE NUMBER of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa has risen to 12 739, with 19 deaths reported over the past 24 hours, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday. This is an increase of 665 on Wednesday’s confirmed cases.
The latest fatalities bring the death toll from the coronavirus to 238, Mkhize said.
“A total of 16 666 tests have been conducted in the last 24 hours,” Mkhize said.
Across the country, 5 676 patients have recovered from the virus.
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PROVINCES
TOTAL CASES
Eastern Cape
1569
Free State
145
Gauteng
2135
KwaZulu-Natal
1444
Limpopo
55
Mpumalanga
67
North West
58
Northern Cape
31
Western Cape
7235
Total
12 739
South Africa’s infections rates have been climbing steadily over the past three weeks as government ramps up efforts to screen and test as many people as possible, especially in densely populated areas.
On Wednesday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed in his address to the nation that the national lockdown, which is currently in its 49th day, has been instrumental in helping government buy time to put everything in place to cope with the inevitable spike in Covid-19 cases during the coming weeks.
“Without the lockdown the number of coronavirus infections would have soared uncontrollably, our health facilities would have been overwhelmed and many thousands more South Africans would have died,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa also announced that most of South Africa is expected to ease into level 3 lockdown by the end of May, which would see more industries open and provide a much-needed boost for the economy which has beenseverely impacted by the lockdown.
* For the latest on the Covid-19 outbreak, visit IOL’s special #Coronavirus page.
** If you think you have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus, please call the 24-hour hotline on 0800 029 999 or visit sacoronavirus.co.za
