The minister's statement on the latest Covid-19 statistics also reveals that while the mortality rate has dropped to 1.8 percent, the recovery rate has also dropped to 48.6 percent.

Case data for the provinces indicates that the Western Cape accounts for 62,481 Covid-19 cases, or 41.3 percent of the total, with Gauteng in second place at 42,881 confirmed cases (28.4 percent) and the Eastern Cape, 27,686 (18.3 percent).

KwaZulu-Natal has 9,674 confirmed Covid-19 cases, Free State has 1,514, North West 4,187, Mpumalanga 1,190, Limpopo 1,131 and the Northern Cape 465.

Testing data indicates that 1,630,008 tests have been completed in total, of which 33,013 new tests are reported. The private sector has tested 847,148 (52 percent) and the public sector the remaining 48 percent (11,693).

"Regrettably, we report a further 128 Covid-19 related deaths - 4 from Mpumalanga, 25 from Eastern Cape, 36 from Gauteng, 11 from KwaZulu-Natal and 52 from Western Cape. This brings the total deaths to 2657. 

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

The mortality rate is 1.8 percent, the statement said, with 73,543 recoveries, which translates to a recovery rate of 48,6 percent.

While the Western Cape still has the highest number of deaths at 1,859, the Eastern Cape has seen a spike in infections with 422 deaths reported and Gauteng, with 216 is followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 126.

African News Agency