This is according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. While addressing the media on Tuesday 24 March 2020, he says despite this, the country has not reported any deaths. He also announced that the first person who tested positive for the virus in the country, and three others, are now not showing any symptoms of the disease. 

Mkhize says numbers of positive cases are still expected to increase in the next week or two as the county now sits at 554 cases.

"Gauteng now has 302 cases, most of which are in Johannesburg. The Western Cape now has 130 cases and KZN has 80," he adds. 

"To date, we have seen 75% of those who have tested positive have travelled to high-risk countries," Mkhize said. He says measures such as the lockdown will help flatten the curve. 

Meanwhile, two provinces in Central South Africa have recorded an increase in the infection rate of the novel coronavirus disease, taking the tally in the central region to 25. The Free State has an increase of 5 new confirmed cases and now has a total of 18, while the North West has now recorded another case which brings their total to 5. The Northern Cape is the only province in the region which has not recorded new cases today. It, therefore, remains with two confirmed cases - a couple in Hartswater.

He also announced that the tracing of over 400 people suspected to have been in contact with the Coronavirus patients at a church gathering in Bloemfontein is proving to be a headache to the department of health's tracing team. 

He confirmed during a media briefing that his tracing team is posed with a challenge in its effort to track and trace these people. He adds this, as many of those are now believed to have gone back to their respective communities and this makes it difficult for the tracing team. 

On Friday, during a media briefing at Bophelo House in Bloemfontein Mkhize said five international congregants who attend a church gathering at the Divine Restoration Ministries had tested positive for Covid-19.

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