South Africa has recorded its sharpest increase in COVID-19 numbers yet. On Wednesday, the Minister of Health Zweli Mhkize said the number of COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 1 673 in 24 hours.

This brings the total number of active cases in South Africa to 25 937. Twenty-eight more people also died as a result of the virus, bringing the death toll to 552.

Deaths per province (Source: Department of Health)

The good news is there are many patients recovering on a daily basis. The country’s recovery rate has increased to 52%, with a total of 13 451 people having already recovered. Approximately 65% of the country’s COVID-19 cases are in the Western Cape, with a high concentration around the Cape Town metro.

A total of 395 people have died from COVID-19 in the Western Cape.

The number of cases in each province (Source: Department of Health)

The Medical Research Council (MRC) has also noticed a sharp spike in natural deaths in Cape Town, particularly in week of May 19.

Natural deaths are those brought on by the onset of a disease or infection, and not caused by external causes such as murder or accidents.

“We are taking it as an early signal of the impact of COVID-19,” said Debbie Bradshaw, director of the MRC’s burden of disease unit to Business Day.

Picture: un.org

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