According to reports, the Western Cape now has 1279 confirmed COVID-19 cases as opposed to Gauteng’s 1252, making the Western Cape, SA’s epicentre.
“Today the Western Cape has surpassed Gauteng’s confirmed cases and now has the highest number of COVID-19-positive cases in the country,” Mkhize said.
“A further analysis is being done as we are observing outbreak clusters in the Western Cape. This means that a large number of people who operate and interact in the same area [e.g. factories, shopping centres] are testing positive,” he added.
The number of active cases in the Western Cape is at 1015.
South Africa recorded its biggest daily spike in coronavirus infections on Thursday, with 318 new cases and 10 more deaths recorded.
Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, says the number of positive cases had increased to 3 953, while the death toll rose to 75.
The number of recoveries across South Africa has reached 1 320. Recoveries are measured by people who initially tested positive for the virus, but later test negative for it.
Based on these figures, the current number of active cases are at 2 558.
The increase in cases is the result of an intensified community and screening campaign taking place across the country.
“This allows us to take the necessary actions such as isolation, quarantine or hospitalisation if required,” Mkhize said.
By Thursday evening, 3 633 037 people have been screened, 24 174 of those have been referred for testing.
To date, 143 570 COVID-19 tests have been conducted. Data shows 89 501 of the tests have been conducted in the private sector and the public sector has tested 54 069 people.
Both the Free State, with 106 recorded cases, and Northern Cape, with 16, have not shown an increase of confirmed cases since Wednesday.
