Provincial data shows that the Western Cape still has the highest number of  confirmed Covid-19 cases at 52,554, followed by Gauteng with 22,341 and Eastern Cape with 16,895.

KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed 5,278 cases, North West has 2,315 cases, Free State has 772, Mpumalanga has 596, Limpopo, 582 and Northern Cape has 254, with 3 unknown. 

To date 1,353,176 tests have been completed of which 25,116 new tests have been reported, the minister said. 

A total of 669,244 (49 percent) tests (14,834 or 59 percent new) have been done by the private sector, while the public sector has completed 683,932 (51 percent) of which 110,282 (41 percent) are new tests.

"Regrettably, we report a further 61 Covid-19 related deaths - 1 from Limpopo, 3 from Kwa- Zulu Natal, 18 from Eastern Cape and 39 from Western Cape. This brings the total deaths to 1,991," the minister said.

"We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased." 

With a mortality rate of 2 percent - the highest number is in the Western Cape with 1,458, followed by Eastern Cape with 303, Gauteng 122 and KwaZulu-Natal 87, the minister also reported that 52.6 percent (53,444) of all those who contracted the disease have recovered.

The age distribution of the number shows that the highest number of deaths occur in the 60 to 69 years bracket (522), followed by the 50 to 59 years group (487).

African News Agency (ANA)