The latest fatalities were a 68-year-old woman from the Western Cape and a 57-year-old man from Gauteng.

The female patient had severe underlying health conditions but there was no indication that the male patient suffered from any serious medical conditions.

Mkhize said there was "a pattern" so far in that Covid-19 related fatalities were patients who had pre-existing health conditions, and the Gauteng patient appeared to mark a worrying departure.

The patient was admitted to hospital with severe respiratory distress and taken to ICU. X-rays showed signs of Covid-19 and a subsequent test confirmed that he was infected with the virus.

Mkhize sent his condolences to the families of the two latest victims of the disease.

He said the overall number of tests conducted in South Africa were now at 83,663, while more than 438,000 people have been screened for referral for testing.

African News Agency