The latest Covid-19 figures released last night show active cases are growing fastest in Gauteng, with the total rising yesterday by more than 2 300.
The total number of positive cases recorded across the country yesterday was 7 210, bringing the total to 131 800.
Gauteng is second to the Western Cape in the total number of confirmed cases – 34 285 (26% of the national tally) to the Western Cape’s 59 315 (45%).
But where recoveries in the Western Cape so far total 42 172, recoveries in Gauteng remain relatively low at 7 712.
This means Gauteng has thousands more active cases – 26 573 against the Western Cape’s 17 143, up by only 217 since Friday compared to Gauteng’s growth in active cases of 2 361
The Western Cape has by far the highest death toll so far (1 732), followed by the Eastern Cape (384), Gauteng (166) and KwaZulu-Natal (109).
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced last night that 73 deaths yesterday brought the national total to 2 413. Most were in the Western Cape (40), followed by Gauteng (17), Eastern Cape (13) and KwaZulu-Natal (3).
In other virus-related news
- The number of confirmed cases in the United States rose to more than 2.5 million, according to a Reuters tally, with Arizona and Florida being among states to record rises. More than 125 000 Americans have died of Covid-19, the highest global toll from the disease. The report said US health experts were calling for urgent action after a record number of new cases were recorded on Friday – 40 173 – which surpassed the record set only the previous day;
- India reported over 17 000 new cases in 24 hours, pushing the country’s total above 500 000, with infections surging in major cities including the capital New Delhi. Health experts warned hospitals could be overwhelmed, and
- Reuters reported that global infections were nearing 10 million – with more than 9.83 million people having been infected, and more than 493 611 dying.