The Western Cape has 3,760 confirmed cases, followed by Gauteng with 1,720 cases, KwaZulu-Natal with 1,189 and Eastern Cape with 849. Free State figures remain much lower with 130 confirmed Covid-19 cases, while the rest of the provinces continue to remain below the 100 mark. 

Mpumalanga has 57 confirmed cases, Limpopo has 40, followed by North West with 31 and Northern Cape with 26, the statement says.

Testing, which is one of the mechanisms that South Africa has used successfully to curb the spread of the virus, has increased to 279,379 with 11,315 tests done in the past 24 hours.

So far, the private sector has completed 140,240 tests (roughly 50%) and the public sector, 138,139. 

Reported Covid-19 deaths within a 24-hour period stand at five. The minister has expressed his regret at the added deaths, saying that the national figure has risen to 153, with two deaths in both the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and one death in Limpopo.

"We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased and thank the healthcare workers who treated these patients," the minister said.

"We are, however, pleased to report 3,153 recoveries," he said.

The provincial breakdown of deaths and recoveries is as follows: 

The Western Cape still has the highest number of deaths recorded from Covid-19 at 73, with 1,122 recoveries; Eastern Cape has 18 deaths from Covid-19 and 388 recoveries from the disease; Free State has six deaths with 102 recoveries; Gauteng has 15 deaths and 1,036 recoveries; while KZN death toll stands at 38 with 420 recoveries; and Limpopo with three deaths has 27 recoveries. 

None of the other provinces has yet recorded any deaths with Mpumalanga at 22 recoveries, North West at 20 recoveries and Northern Cape at 16 recoveries.

African News Agency