South Africa records over 800 new cases of Covid-19 as total jumps to 14, 355
London, May 17, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Eight hundred and thirty one new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in South Africa, with 91% of those in the Western and Eastern Cape, the health ministry said on Saturday.
This brings the total number of case in the country to 14 355.
“Regrettably we report a further 14 Covid-19 related deaths – this brings the total national deaths to 261,” said Health Minister Zweli Mkhize in his daily bulletin.
“We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who cared for the deceased.
“A few examples is that we have screened 10 737 341 citizens, we now have 376 sites identified for quarantine nationally with 30 823 quarantine beds. Significantly our mortality rate, 1.8 percent, remains well below the global average which is currently 6.6 percent and our recovery rate is 42.4 percent, above the global average of 38 percent,” he concluded.
The total number of recoveries to date is 6478.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your tenacity, stoicism and true partnership with government. Together we succeeded in flattening the curve, which facilitated ramping up and cohesion of our health care system as well as preparation of our spaces as we resume our economic and social development,” said Mkhize on Saturday.
As recent as May 10, there were warnings that traveling between provinces during the inter-provincial grace period had seen a spike in numbers in the two regions.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba announced 57 new cases last Sunday morning alone.
The grace period was to allow those who had been on a hard lockdown to get home, or change locations due to a work contract
