Four-hundred-and-37 new COVID-19 infections have been recorded in the country in the past 24 hours with seven more deaths. This is the highest daily increase since the first case was reported in South Africa at the beginning of last month.
The total number of cases now sits at 7 220 with 138 deaths.
Six people who died are from the Western Cape, the province with the highest number of positive cases and deaths. One person was from KwaZulu-Natal.
The Health Department says that 411 people are currently hospitalised fighting the viral infection.
This translates to approximately 5% of all cases being admitted, this is in line with global trends. Minister Zweli Mkhize expressed his concern about hospitals being burdened as winter sets in, bringing with it pneumonia, bronchitis and influenza.
He says this may overwhelm the system and appealed to South Africans to continue adhering to the lockdown regulations. Below is a graph with the latest COVID-19 statistics:
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COVID-19 in prisons
The Department of Correctional Services has recorded five new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of cases to 159. In a statement, the department says the cases include three officials and two inmates.
The three officials are in Allandale in the Western Cape and the two inmates are in East London. The Eastern Cape has the highest number of cases, 93 with 35 officials and 58 inmates. The Western Cape accounts for 52 cases of the 159 Correctional Services cases.
So far the department has recorded a total of 21 recoveries. Recoveries refer to people who previously tested positive for coronavirus but have since recovered and tested negative.
“DCS will continue supporting officials and inmates who test positive as we prioritise their well being, following the guidelines provided by the Department of Health, we will turn the tide and defeat the pandemic. ”
Below is the breakdown of COVID-19 cases at Correctional Services facilities:
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