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As of Monday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa is 7,220.
The provincial breakdown is as follows.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement that a total of 257,541 tests have been performed to date, with 11,794 tests performed in the last 24 hours.
“Unfortunately, we reported 7 more COVID-19 related deaths: 6 from the Western Cape and 1 from KwaZulu Natal. This brings the total number of deaths nationwide to 138.
“We wish to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and to thank the health workers who treated these patients.
“However, we are pleased to report 2,746 recoveries as of May 2, 2020,” said Mkhize.
The provincial breakdown is as follows:
Hospital burden
“As of May 2, 2020, we had 411 people hospitalized in the country. This translates to approximately 5% of all confirmed patients with COVID-19 and this is consistent with the hospitalization rates seen in China, “he added.
“Our death rate has been stable at around 1.9% since the first death was reported. This is below the world average, which is 3.4% as estimated by the World Health Organization.
“As a reminder to all South Africans, the principle of flattening the curve is to limit the spread of infection so that the numbers do not increase as they overwhelm the health care system.
“As winter approaches, we will face the added burden of influenza and other pneumonias, bronchiolitis in children, exacerbations of asthma, and chronic obstructive airway disease and winter-related trauma such as burns.
“Therefore, I urge each and every South African to continue to play their role in easing the burden on the health care system: stay home if you don’t have to venture out, wear a mask at all times in public places, wash your hands regularly and disinfect the surfaces you normally come in contact with.
“I also urge employers whose companies have opened up to take all necessary steps to protect their employees.
“I salute our health professionals: our doctors, nurses, care workers, community workers, allied health professionals, medical technicians, pharmacists, porters, cleaners, laboratory technicians, and all of our foot soldiers on the front line of the medical care they continue to provide. These difficult times, “Mkhize concluded.
(Compiled by Carina Koen.)
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