South Africa has recorded 3 707 news coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, bringing the cumulative number of infections in the country to 607 045.
A total of 144 COVID-19 related deaths have also been recorded, which brings the death toll to 12 987, according to the Health Department’s latest report.
Of the latest number of fatalities since the last report, Mpumalanga has recorded the most with 46, followed Gauteng with 37; by KwaZulu Natal with 31; the Eastern Cape with 25 and five from the Western Cape.
The recovery rate continues to depict a picture of hope at 83%, with only 83 931 active cases.
The number of tests conducted to date is 3 535 067 with 30 560 news tests conducted since the last report.
As of today, the total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases is 607 045, the total number of deaths is 12 987 and the total number of recoveries is 504 127. pic.twitter.com/J0QEm0jRVi
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) August 22, 2020
Below are SA’s latest statistics:
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Reopening of schools
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, says the decisions to open schools or not on the continent amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a difficult one.
Moeti was speaking in an online COVID-19 media briefing on the re-opening of schools in Africa on Friday.
She says, “Children are our future and education is a pathway out of poverty towards prosperity and better health for the continent and the world. The decisions to open schools or not amid the pandemic is a difficult one, but we must find the right balance to avoid trading one adversity for another… School closures are exacerbating the risk of teen pregnancies and violence against children.”
Moeti says schools have paved the way to success for many Africans and they also provide a safe haven for many children in challenging circumstances to develop and thrive.
“We must not be blindsided by our efforts to contain COVID-19 and end up with a lost generation.”
Below is the full briefing:
