South Africa reports record daily COVID-19 cases of nearly 18,0000 – Watch

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

South Africa reports record daily COVID-19 cases of nearly 18,0000 – Watch

10:33 CAT | 31 Dec 2020

File photo: Reuters

South Africa reported a record 17,710 daily increase in coronavirus infections on Wednesday, surpassing the previous high of about 14,500 set several days ago.

“As of today, the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases identified is 1,039,161 with 17,710 (positivity rate 33%) cases identified since the last report,” the health ministry said in a statement.

Health minister Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday evening that the positivity rate — an indicator of the rapidity of the spreading of the virus — stood at 33% and remained of “major concern”.

Also read: South Africa: Border with Mozambique,Ponta do Ouro, open from 1 January 2021

The latest daily tally of 17,710 pushes the cumulative total number of infections since the start of the pandemic in the country to 1,039,161.

SA recorded the previous highest number of infections on December 24 with 14,305 cases. And for the second day in a row, the daily death count was close to 500.

“Regrettably, 465 more Covid-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 88, Free State four, Gauteng 41, KwaZulu-Natal 144, Limpopo 16, Northern Cape seven and Western Cape 165. This brings the total deaths to 28,033,” Mkhize said.

“A cumulative 6,553,761 tests have been conducted with 53,279 tests completed since the last report.”

Recoveries stand at 867,597, translating into a recovery rate of 83%.

South Africa, which has the highest number of cases on the continent, has been battling a major surge in coronavirus cases since the end of November, owing largely to a new strain of a virus called 501.V2, the government has said.

Also read: All SA Beaches closed except for the Northern Cape

This has put a severe strain on hospitals with some medical facilities overflowing with patients, prompting the government to impose stricter lockdown measures.

The number of deaths a day has risen to an average of nearly 500 in the past few days, with the total death toll at more than 28,000.