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* Note: Due to the different notification times, the provincial numbers will differ in some cases per day with the national numbers for certain provinces.
There were 535 more confirmed cases in the Western Cape as of Friday, bringing the number to 4,584, Prime Minister Alan Winde said.
Deaths in the province now rise to 87, up from 76 on Thursday, and include a nurse from Tygerberg Hospital.
In his daily update, Winde said recoveries in the province were 1,518, with 2,979 cases active. At least 53,476 tests have been performed.
The province also announced the death of Nurse Ntombizakithi Ngidi.
Two nurses have lost their lives to the virus after Petronella Benjamin, who was one day from retirement when she died last week, Winde said.
“All of our health workers are heroes on the front lines and we thank them for their selflessness and commitment during this pandemic.”
“Each and every death should be a clear reminder of the role we all have to play in flattening this curve so that we can protect our healthcare workers and all of our vulnerable residents, elderly or sick,” he said in a statement.
The province has also urged people to stay home, follow hygiene processes, and avoid meetings when possible, as it works around the clock to make sure it is ready for the spike that is yet to come.
“Wear a cloth mask correctly when you leave the house and keep a good distance from everyone else at all times. By doing this, you are helping us save lives,” Winde added.
On Thursday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said South Africa had 8,232 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
He added that the Western Cape had just under 50% of the number of cases nationwide and was experiencing “cluster outbreaks” that needed mechanisms to deal with them more vigorously to reduce the rate of spread.
However, the province has argued that its rapid and active test approach to putting out “forest fires” has naturally seen more reported cases in it.
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