South Africa now has 6336 confirmed coronavirus cases, of which 2549 people have recovered.
The total number of COVID-19 related deaths has risen by 7 to 123. The deaths occurred in the Western Cape and Free State.
The total number of tests conducted to date is 230 686, of which 13 164 were done in the last 24 hours, the highest number of tests in a 24 hour period yet.
The provincial breakdown of infections is as follows:
The provincial breakdown of deaths is as follows:
The Health Department has been studying patterns of the deaths, and has observed the following.
The deaths by gender:
The deaths by age:
“We have looked at the data for patients who have been hospitalised and found that, consistent with evidence emerging worldwide, hypertension, diabetes and cardiac disease are the three most common co-morbidities associated with serious illness from COVID-19,” said Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize in a statement.
“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. I would also like to urge 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.”
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