In a statement released on Wednesday, the DCS said its latest nine confirmed cases came from the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces.

The Western Cape recorded eight officials who tested positive, while one official tested positive in Gauteng. 

In total, the department has recorded 273 officials and 482 inmates infected with Covid-19 across the country; 173 individuals have recovered and six have died. 

The Eastern Cape has recorded the highest number of infections at 490 cases, including 77 officials and 413 inmates, with three deaths and 72 recoveries. 

The Western Cape, currently the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, has recorded 229 cases, including 172 officials and 57 inmates, with three deaths and 98 recoveries. 

Limpopo has only recorded two cases of officials who contracted Covid-19 and one recovery, while Gauteng recorded 20 cases with 12 inmates infected, eight officials and the recovery of 10 individuals. 

The Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal each recorded the infection of two officials, while the Free State recorded one case as well as one recovery. 

The DCS said it had recorded a case at its head office in Pretoria, with one official infected and one recovery recorded. 

According to the Department of Health, South Africa has recorded 25,937 cases of Covid-19 as of Wednesday. The number of deaths rose by 28, bringing the total to 552. A 52% recovery rate has been recorded, with 13,451 individuals having recovered from the coronavirus. 

So far, the health department has conducted 634,996 tests. 

African News Agency (ANA)