"Since the start of the outbreak there have been 80,412 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa. Of these, 44,331 people have recovered. That means there are currently 34,407 active cases in the country," Ramaphosa said.

While the president has commended South Africans broadly for their adherence to stringent regulations during a difficult period, which has seen devastation of the country's economy and brought hardship to many South Africans, he has cautioned that the worst is yet to come.

"While we have used the lockdown to start to flatten the curve, this task is far from complete. Even after 100 days, we are still near the beginning of this epidemic and it will remain with us for many more months, possibly years.

"The task of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is like running a marathon race and not a sprint, and we have therefore had to shape our response according to that reality," Ramaphosa said, adding that the rate of infections was increasing rapidly.

Ramaphosa has urged people in going forward to heed the basic steps for prevention of infection - washing hands, wearing masks and physical distancing. And while the dangers of infection are ever greater with easing the lockdown, these practices also mean it is not inevitable, the president adds.

In his daily report on Covid-19 statistics, health Minister Zweli Mkhize said that the provincial infections were as follows: Eastern Cape 11, 919, Free State 608, Gauteng 14,620, KwaZulu-Natal 4,238, Limpopo 416, Mpumalanga 391, North West 1,402, Northern Cape 211 and Western Cape 46,555. This is the biggest daily increase of 4 083 new cases in the country so far.

He said that 582,957 (49 percent) of tests were done by the private sector, with the public sector accounting for 617,779, bringing the total number of tests to 1,200,736, with 28,202 tests done in the last 24 hours.

"Regrettably, we report a further 49 Covid-19 related deaths - six from Eastern Cape and 43 from Western Cape. This brings the total deaths to 1,674," the minister said.

"We wish to convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased," he said. 

While the mortality rate is 2.1 percent, the recovery rate is 55.1 percent (44,331), Mkhize adds. 

African News Agency (ANA)