South Africa has recorded 414 COVID-19 related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total deaths to 9 298.
The accumulative number of people who have tested positive for the virus now stands at 529 877. Gauteng’s total is surging towards the 200 000 mark, with the confirmed cases in the province standing at 185 282.
3 113 191 tests have been conducted in both private and public laboratories.
SA’s latest stats:
WHO to send health personnel to help SA’s COVID-19 fight
The World Health Organisation (WHO) will be sending 43 senior experts from across the globe to South Africa. The first 17 experts will arrived in South Africa on Wednesday and will complete a period of quarantine and initiation before being deployed in the department and other provinces.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says that the WHO agreed to the request for their reinforcement as the national COVID-19 response is being implemented.
Dr. Mkhize made the announcement while briefing the media on Wednesday morning.
South Africa is currently in the top five of the globe in terms of the highest number of infections and is the highest on the African continent.
The Health Minister says that Dr. Mike Ryan will be leading the WHO team from Geneva and will be focusing on South Africa “and providing constant advice whilst analyzing our strategies including decisions we have taken as the department of health and the country South Africa in our COVID-19 response.”
“We see this as a great opportunity not only to improve our health strategies during this pandemic but also to accelerate our path towards health care reform.”
Mkhize also took the time to acknowledge the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for his continuous support and counsel.
