The Health Department has announced that the number of COVID-19 infections in South Africa has risen to 1655.

This is an increase of 70 cases from Saturday’s announcement of 1585

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize also confirmed that the number of deaths from COVID-19 has increased to 11 with 1 from Gauteng, 7 from KwaZulu-Natal, 1 from the Free State and 2 from the Western Cape.

Gauteng has the most infections with 704, followed by the Western Cape at 454, KwaZulu-Natal 246, Free State 87, North West 11, Mpumalanga 18, Limpopo 19, Eastern Cape 31, Northern Cape 8 and unallocated infections 77.

The total number of COVID-19 tests conducted to date is 56,873 an increase of 2,936 from those reported yesterday.

Mkhize conveyed his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased.

“The first deceased patient is an 82 year old female who was admitted to ICU on 29 March. She had presented with fever, short breath, body pains, dry cough and sore throat. She also had comorbidities that included hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol. The second deceased patient is an 86 year old male admitted to hospital on the 26th March with a diagnosis of bronchopneumonia and respiratory distress. He had an underlying condition of chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD).”

Mkhize says there was also a meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the African Union’s Continental Response to COVID-19 which was co-chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, current Chairperson of the African Union.

He says the meeting was attended by 10 Health Ministers from African countries who received a briefing from the Director of the Africa Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC), Dr John Nkengasong.

“The Ministers of Health acknowledged that the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented public health disaster. All countries shared their experiences thus far and it was agreed that we must strengthen our coordination efforts as a continent in order to limit the number of deaths and reduce the uncontrollable spread of this pandemic.”

Mkhize says they also held a meeting with the Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) National Sector Leaders where the sector expressed its support for government’s effort in dealing with the COVID-19 and committed to support initiatives such as tracing of contacts.

Faizel Patel

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)