The number of South Africans who have tested positive for Covid-19 has increased to 1,462.
Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize gave the update at the Universitas Hospital in the Free State after a visit on Thursday.
He said that the current official death toll linked to Covid-19 was five, but that there were “two reported deaths that we are trying to get correct information about”. He said that the number of recoveries was “close” to 45.
“The total number that have tested positive is 1,462, and so there has been quite an increase,” he said.
On Wednesday evening, he said that the number of confirmed cases was 1,380 — meaning that there has been an increase of 82 over the last 24 hours.
He said that there has been a “restraint in the numbers”, which he put down to, among other things, the “impact of the lockdown”, “the fact we have closed the borders” and that because “people are in their homes means there is not mixing up in large volumes”.
But he admitted that the number could rise as more people are tested.
“We need to get out and go and find more and more of the people who are positive in the community,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mkhize said that the current slower increase in the number of cases could be the “calm before a heavy and devastating storm”.
'Quite an increase' as number of Covid-19 cases jumps to 1,462
The number of South Africans who have tested positive for Covid-19 has increased to 1,462.
Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize gave the update at the Universitas Hospital in the Free State after a visit on Thursday.
He said that the current official death toll linked to Covid-19 was five, but that there were “two reported deaths that we are trying to get correct information about”. He said that the number of recoveries was “close” to 45.
“The total number that have tested positive is 1,462, and so there has been quite an increase,” he said.
On Wednesday evening, he said that the number of confirmed cases was 1,380 — meaning that there has been an increase of 82 over the last 24 hours.
He said that there has been a “restraint in the numbers”, which he put down to, among other things, the “impact of the lockdown”, “the fact we have closed the borders” and that because “people are in their homes means there is not mixing up in large volumes”.
But he admitted that the number could rise as more people are tested.
“We need to get out and go and find more and more of the people who are positive in the community,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mkhize said that the current slower increase in the number of cases could be the “calm before a heavy and devastating storm”.