Cumulative cases in Gauteng rose yesterday to 75 015, or 33.4% of the national total, overtaking the Western Cape, where cases total 73 292, or 32.6%.

The next highest figure is in the Eastern Cape, with 42 357 cases (18.9%).

Overall, positive cases rose by 8 810 to 224 665 (with 106 842 recoveries).

Deaths rose by 98 to 3 600, the highest toll being in the Western Cape (47), followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape (each with 18) and Mpumalanga (15).

The impact of Covid-19 in political circles made headlines yesterday. The disease claimed the lives of AmaRharhabe Kingdom Queen Regent Noloyiso Sandile, Langeberg mayor Henry Jansen in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson for the African National Congress, and former KwaDukuza mayor, Ricardo Mthembu.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced that he had tested positive and was self-isolating at home for the next 14 days.

He said he had begun to develop mild flu-like symptoms on Sunday. ‘As I am diabetic (type 2) and over 55 years of age, I know I am at a higher risk of developing a more serious illness. I therefore went to be tested to determine the cause of the symptoms on Monday.’

Queen Regent Sandile, 56 – sister of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and wife of the late AmaRharhabe King Maxhoba Sandile – died at Cecilia Makhiwane Hospital in Mdantsane yesterday.

Mayor Jansen died on Tuesday afternoon, having been treated at Mediclinic Worcester for more than a week.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize warned that South Africa had ‘now reached the surge’.

‘The storm that we have consistently warned South Africans about is now arriving. As a nation we have every reason to be united in this fight against Covid-19. We dare not be divided. As we continue this battle, we look beyond our differences and ensure that wherever we are, we and those around us change our behaviour and observe all measures announced to contain the spread of this virus.’

The BBC reported that South Africa had the 14th highest number of Covid-19 infections globally.

In other virus-related news

  • United States President Donald Trump publicly disagreed with the assessment of the country’s top immunologist, Anthony Fauci, on the seriousness of the situation in the US. Infections officially passed three million (with more than 131 000 deaths). While Fauci said the ‘current state is really not good’ and that the US was ‘still knee deep in the first wave of Covid-19 infections’, Trump said: ‘I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him.’ He added: ‘I think we are going to be in two, three, four weeks, by the time we next speak, I think we are going to be in very good shape’;
  • Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro announced that he was treating his infection with the unproven drug, hydroxychloroquine, and even swallowed a pill in a Facebook video that went viral. Bolsonaro tested positive on Tuesday after playing down the risks of the illness for months. He said he was treating his illness with the anti-malarial drug that has been the subject of much speculation, but has so far not been proved effective against the virus;
  • China criticised the US’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization, saying the decision would have grave implications for developing countries;
  • In Britain, official sources show that there were 64 844 more deaths than normal for the period from 7 March to 26 June; and
  • Globally, there are more than 11.8 million confirmed cases and more than 544 000 deaths.

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