The Department of Health has announced that as of today [May 5] the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 7572. The number of coronavirus related deaths recorded today was 10.
A provincial breakdown of total confirmed cases is as follows:
| PROVINCE | COVID-19 Confirmed Cases |
| Eastern Cape | 838 |
| Free State | 128 |
| Gauteng | 1697 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 1142 |
| Limpopo | 40 |
| Mpumalanga | 57 |
| North West | 35 |
| Northern Cape | 26 |
| Western Cape | 3609 |
| Unknown | 0 |
| Total | 7572 |
The total number of tests conducted to date is up to 268,064 with 10,523 tests done in the past 24 hours.
| Sector | Total tested | New tested | ||
| Private | 133 314 | 50% | 5 165 | 49% |
| Public | 134 750 | 50% | 5 358 | 51% |
| Grand Total | 268 064 | 10 523 |
Sadly, the Ministry of Health has announced 10 more COVID-19 related deaths of which, 7 were from the Western Cape, 1 from Eastern Cape, 1 from KZN and 1 from Gauteng. This brings the total deaths nationally to 148.
The provincial breakdown of deaths is as follows:
| Province | Deaths |
| Eastern Cape | 18 |
| Free State | 6 |
| Gauteng | 15 |
| KwaZulu Natal | 36 |
| Limpopo | 2 |
| Mpumalanga | 0 |
| North West | 0 |
| Northern Cape | 0 |
| Western Cape | 71 |
| Total | 148 |
In a statement the Department of Health highlighted on World Hand Hygiene Day, the importance of washing our hands regularly now more than ever.
“Today we commemorate World Hand Hygiene Day in a year that has particularly shone the spotlight on hand hygiene. As we know, one of the ways Coronavirus is transferred is by hands which have come into contact with contaminated surfaces, objects or areas of the body.
“To echo the sentiments of our Honourable President Cyril Ramaphosa, who addressed us from KwaZulu Natal today, the COVID-19 outbreak is giving us an opportunity, as humanity, to review our way of life and take forward all the important lessons we are learning into a new future.
“Washing hands saves lives. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water or hand sanitizer.”
Picture: Unsplash