#Coronavirus: SA records first deaths

South Africa

─── LUCKY NKUYANE 09:27 Fri, 27 Mar 2020

South Africa has recorded its first deaths due to the novel coronavirus disease, three weeks after the first case was reported in the country on 5 March 2020.

Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, announced the deaths of the two individuals on Friday morning 27 March. Mkhize says one death occurred at a private hospital and the other at a public hospital, both in the Western Cape.

He also announced the latest confirmed Covid-19 cases have increased from yesterday’s number of 927 and tipped the 1000 mark. "Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased," he adds.

On Tuesday 24 March, Mkhize announced that two patients infected with the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) were placed in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of private hospitals in South Africa. 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.

South Africa has just begun a 21-day national lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

It is with deep sadness that we announce two loss of lives to #coronavirus . We will update with more details pic.twitter.com/WXUORwjjHL
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) March 27, 2020