This, as he addressed the nation on government's progress to stem the spread of  the Covid-19 in the country during the 21-day national lockdown. 

He says the number of those with the virus in the province remains unchanged at 74, with one death reported so far. 

Mkhize further announced that 1 619 people have been tracked so far in the province. He adds 921 have been identified, and the tracking team is also rounding up a further 698 contacts.

"Of those, there were specific [people with] relations to the particular original church;  421 people had to be tracked, and out of that particular experience of that church 31 people tested positive."

"Right now the number of the Free State had gone up to over 70 and of course some of them were people who were leaders of their churches who have now gone [away from] their churches, so we are continuing to track that one, " Mkhize adds.

OFM News reported earlier that Mkhize – while addressing the nation on Covid-19 – flagged Mangaung, which includes Bloemfontein, as well as Sandton in Gauteng, as potential epicenters of the virus in South Africa. 

The spike in Bloemfontein has been attributed to a church gathering where five international guests from Israel, Texas and France, who attended the Divine Restoration Ministries prayer gathering, tested positive for Covid-19.

OFM News