South Africa has recorded a 7% increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases with 145 more people testing positive for the virus. This brings the total number of people who’ve been confirmed as having contracted the virus to 2173. At least 25 people have died from the COVID-19 disease.
As at today, the total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases in South Africa is 2173. This is an increase of 145 from the previously reported cases. pic.twitter.com/iOI2wFr4bA
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) April 12, 2020
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On a statement issued on Sunday, the Health Department says it is seeing an increase in the number of tests being conducted by public laboratories.
“The total number of tests conducted to date is 80 085. We are also seeing an increase in tests conducted at public laboratories. Of the 5 032 tests conducted in the past day, 3 192 were done in public laboratories,” reads the statement.
Gauteng remains the province with the most coronavirus cases at 865, followed by the Western Cape with 587.
Mkhize urges South Africans to join the fight
South Africa has shown flattening of the rate of infections since the imposition of the lockdown.
Health Minister Mkhize says the country could follow the trend of some Asian nations that have been able to bring the spread of COVID-19 under control.
But Mkhize says it is up to every South African to join the fight against COVID-19. He says it is essential that South Africans obey the lockdown regulations, maintain good hygiene and maintain social distancing as much as possible.
In the below video, Mkhize gives an update on the efforts to curb the pandemic
Wearing of masks
Mkhize encouraged South Africans to wear masks as this has been scientifically proven, it’s one of the preventative measures. He says people can also make their own cloth masks.
Speaking in Pietermaritzburg, Mkhize said people can use even a handkerchief, but they must ensure that the mask has three layers.
He emphasised that the issue of social distancing and regular hand washing should also go together with wearing a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“The next issue is the use of masks in addition to handwashing, sanitation. This issue of wearing masks is important. It is not one versus the other, it is everything together. And in this case, we are recommending that people can use cloth masks. Cloth masks we need to just try and make sure there is a three-layer kind of thing you can even use handkerchief which means all you do you fold this one way, and fold this other way those three together that gives you already three layers and then it can be turned into a mask you can use handkerchief but people can actually make their own masks just make sure that you try and keep those layers.”
Below are guidelines on wearing of masks:
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