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Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize has revealed that, for the first time, South Africa has passed the 18,000 new daily Covid-19 case mark.
In a statement, he said: “As of today [Thursday 31 December], the cumulative total of Covid-19 cases identified is 1,057,161, with 18,000 cases identified since the last report. “
“Unfortunately, today we report another 336 Covid-19 related deaths: Eastern Cape 57, Free State 1, Gauteng 84, KwaZulu-Natal 116, Limpopo 20, Mpumalanga 4, Northern Cape 4 and Western Cape 150. This brings the total to 28,469 deaths.
“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased and we thank the health workers who cared for the deceased. Our recoveries currently amount to 879,671. This represents a recovery rate of 83% ”.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Why do we still not have a Covid vaccine in South Africa?
Speaking earlier on New Year’s Eve during a candle lighting ceremony in memory of the Covid-19 victims, at King Edward Hospital in Durban, Mkhize said: “As we meet today, for the first time in the history of the pandemic. in South Africa, we have surpassed the 18,000 new daily case mark and reached a cumulative total of 1,057,161 cases.
SA has passed the mark of 18,000 new cases per day and has reached a cumulative total of 1,057,161 cases.
55,000 new tests have been carried out.
28,469 South Africans have succumbed to # COVID-19 of which 436 were public health workers who paid the maximum price in the first line.– Department of Health (@HealthZA) December 31, 2020
“We previously warned that this second wave will dwarf the first and, in fact, this is the case, as we are witnessing a sharp rise in the number of active cases.”
“Despite running 55,000 tests in the last 24 hours, the positivity rate is 32.5%. We continue to highlight this point because it indicates that the virus is spreading so fast that it is outpacing our ability to detect it, even with good response times. “
On Wednesday, SA registered 17,710 new daily cases, which was the highest number of new cases since the virus hit the country.
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“A total of 28,469 South Africans are known to succumb to Covid-19 this year. Among them were 436 public health workers who paid the maximum price on the front line, ”added Mkhize.
He added that to date, 43,124 healthcare workers had been infected with the coronavirus, and said that last week, all provinces had reported an increase in the number of healthcare workers who were infected, “with the largest increase coming from from KwaZulu-Natal, with 687 new cases ”.
Check out the ceremony below.
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