This, as the province recorded a sharp increase of cases in the latest statistics released this morning.

The number of those infected by Covid-19 in the province increased from 18 to 30.  It is uncertain at this stage how many of the unallocated cases will later be attributed to the Free State.

Mkhize says the spike in the province is linked to the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast which the Divine Restoration Ministries hosted in Bloemfontein.

Five Covid-19 positive foreigners from the United States, Israel and France took part in the prayer gathering.

On Tuesday OFM News reported that the North West government confirmed one of their cases reported so far - a 21-year-old woman from Bloemhof - had attended the event at the Divine Restoration Ministries.

The Bloemfontein-based church at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak in the Free State, in the meantime, wished to set the record straight on the circumstances surrounding the outbreak, explaining that they were only hosting the event.

Meanwhile, Mkhize said they were still looking for 300 people who attended the service.

Among those who had attended the service were ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe, ACDP MP Steve Swart, and well-known evangelist Angus Buchan.

All three have indicated that they have undergone testing. There has been an increase in coronavirus cases in the Free State after churchgoers in Mangaung became infected.

The health minister says this is concerning.

OFM News