The World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows that South Africa now registers the most COVID-19 related deaths on the continent, in addition to topping the list of confirmed infections.
In total, African countries have registered over 663 000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 343 000 recoveries and 14 000 COVID-19 related deaths.
Over 663,000 confirmed #COVID19 cases on the African continent – with more than 343,000 recoveries & 14,000 deaths. View country figures & more with the WHO African Region COVID-19 Dashboard: https://t.co/V0fkK8dYTg pic.twitter.com/XTYYKUxc1W
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) July 17, 2020
10 countries account for 88% (440,672) of all reported #COVID19 cases in the African Region: South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Ethiopia & DRC. South Africa accounts for more than half of cases.
Full report: https://t.co/zZM14jRFc7 pic.twitter.com/Mes5fe8hiw
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) July 17, 2020
Globally, as the number of infections nears 14 million, South Africa ranks sixth in terms of overall infections surpassing the UK, Spain, Chile and Mexico, some of the worst affected nations.
However, in terms of the global death toll, South Africa ranks much lower than other nations.
In the video below, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma reports that on Thursday SA ranked 8th in the world in terms of COVID-19 case:
SA Government trying to deal with COVID-19
Acknowledging that South Africa now has one of the highest numbers of infections in the world, Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Thursday said it was because of the surge, that the government had decided to introduce stricter measures for lockdown Level 3.
“It is for this reason that government introduced further restrictions to curb a surge in infections which includes the mandatory wearing of masks; the suspension of the sale of alcohol and continued restriction of the sale of tobacco. We are losing loved ones; fathers, mothers, children, breadwinners, relatives and friends,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
