The Health Department has announced that the number of COVID-19 infections in South Africa has risen to 6,336.
This is an increase of 385 from Friday’s announcement.
The number of deaths has also increased by 7 bringing the total to 123.
The Western Cape has the most infections with 2,700, followed by the Gauteng at 1,598, KwaZulu-Natal 1,051, Free State 121, North West 35, Mpumalanga 40, Limpopo 36, Eastern Cape 732, Northern Cape 23 and unallocated infections 0.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted to date is 230,686 this is an increase of 13,164, which were done in the last 24 hours.
Mkhize also announced that the new figures for recoveries stand 2,549 as at 29 April.
“Regrettably, we are saddened to report a further 7 COVID-19 related deaths from the Western Cape and Free State. This brings the total number of deaths to 123.”
Mkhize has expressed his condolences to the affected families and appreciation to the health workers who treated the patients.
The health minister says they have looked at the data for patients who have been hospitalized and found consistent with evidence emerging worldwide, hypertension, diabetes and cardiac disease are the three most common co-morbidities associated with serious illness from COVID-19.
Mkhize says other co-morbidities that were seen amongst COVID-19 admitted patients were chronic pulmonary disease, asthma, chronic renal disease, malignancy, HIV, active and past tuberculosis.
“I would therefore like to urge our millions of South Africans who are over 63 years of age and those who live with these conditions to take extra precaution as we ease the lockdown.
Mkhize also urged all South Africans to continue to stay at home as far as possible, only venturing out to perform essential tasks as we move through the stages of the gradual lifting of lockdown.
Faizel Patel
0 Comments