Home News SA Covid-19 cases rise to 6 336, deaths to 123

SA Covid-19 cases rise to 6 336, deaths to 123

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We have begun to study the deaths to begin to elucidate patterns and areas of high risk – Health minister

AS AT Sunday, the total number of confirmed coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in South Africa was 6 336, which is 385 more than the previous day, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

The total number of tests conducted to date was 230 686, of which 13 164 were done in the past 24 hours. This was the highest number of tests done in a 24-hour cycle to date, he said in a statement.

“Regrettably, we are saddened to report a further seven Covid-19-related deaths from the Western Cape and Free State. This brings the total number of deaths to 123. We wish to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and salute the health care workers who treated the deceased patients. We are, however, pleased to report that the number of recoveries now stands at 2 549,” he said.

The provincial breakdown of confirmed cases was as follows: the Eastern Cape (732), Free State (121), Gauteng (1598), KwaZulu-Natal (1051), Limpopo (36), Mpumalanga (40), North West (35), Northern Cape (23), and the Western Cape (2700).

The provincial breakdown of reported deaths and recoveries were as follows: the Eastern Cape (13 deaths; 275 recoveries), Free State (6; 96), Gauteng (12; 948), KwaZulu-Natal (34; 375), Limpopo (2; 25), Mpumalanga (0; 18), North West (0; 20), Northern Cape (0; 13), and the Western Cape (56; 779).

“We have also begun to study the deaths to begin to elucidate patterns and areas of high risk,” Mkhize said. The following had been observed: male deaths (71, or 58 percent), and female deaths (52, or 42 percent).

Distribution of deaths by age: 0-9 (0 deaths), 10-19 (0), 20-29 (1) or (0.8 percent), 30-39 (6) or (4.9 percent), 40-49 (19) or (15.5 percent), 50-59 (23) or (18.7 percent), 60-69 (30) or (24.4 percent), 70-79 (28) or (22.7 percent), 80-89 (14) or (11.4 percent), and 90-99 (2) or (1.6 percent). The median age of patients who died was 64.

On co-morbidities, he said: “We have looked at the data for patients who have been hospitalised and found that, consistent with evidence emerging worldwide, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac disease are the three most common co-morbidities associated with serious illness from Covid-19.”

Other co-morbidities seen among Covid-19 admitted patients were chronic pulmonary disease, asthma, chronic renal disease, malignancy, HIV, and active and past tuberculosis (TB).

“I would therefore like to urge our millions of South Africans who are over 63 years of age and those who live with these conditions to take extra precaution as we ease the lockdown. I would also like to urge all South Africans to continue to stay at home as far as possible, only venturing out to perform essential tasks as we move through the stages of the gradual lifting of lockdown,” Mkhize said.

– African News Agency (ANA)

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