The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 8895, as of Friday, May 8.
A total of 307 752 tests have been conducted to date with 15 599 tests done in the past 24 hours.
The provincial cases are as follows:
Eastern Cape: 989
Free State: 133
Gauteng: 1851
KwaZulu-Natal: 1253
Limpopo: 43
Mpumalanga: 60
North West: 42
Northern Cape: 27
Western Cape: 4497
Total: 8895
As of 5 May, 8 216 605 citizens have been screened across the country.
As of May 7, there were 435 patients in hospital of which 45 were in high care, 77 were in ICU and, of those, 40 were being ventilated. SA’s hospitalization rate remains at 5% of all COVID19 diagnosed patients.
There are 17 more COVID-19 related deaths: 3 from Eastern Cape, 3 from Gauteng, 2 from KZN, and 9 from Western Cape.
This brings the total national deaths to 178.
“There has been a delay in reporting some of these deaths due to the stringent verification processes we had undertaken. We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased and thank the health care workers who treated these patients,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement.
“As I indicated earlier this week in Rustenburg, we will be embarking on oversight visits to the Eastern Cape and Western Cape this weekend. These will be followed by Presidential visits to both provinces later next week,” he added.
The provinces have recorded the two highest new cases in the past 24 hours with Western Cape – accounting for 76% of new cases – and the Eastern Cape, with 9% of new cases.
“In addition, the Western Cape has just over 50% of the COVID-19 burden in South Africa, the highest deaths as well. With interprovincial movement between these provinces being an issue, it will be crucial for us to understand the dynamics driving the epidemic in this region and assist where necessary.
“We know that a lot of good work has been done by the leadership of these provinces. We also acknowledge the commitment and hard work of our health professionals and frontline workers – both in public and private sectors. We look forward to bolstering the efforts already in place to curb further spread of COVID-19.”
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