The Eastern Cape has had more than 26,000 confirmed infections and close to 400 deaths.

Premier Oscar Mabuyane also addressed the dumping of used COVID-19 test kits along the side of the N2 highway. He said he wants answers.

"The Government of the Eastern Cape has been on a negative, unfortunately, on something we were almost clueless about, because it was from a small lab in a hospital, to the bigger lab for processing of specimen," he said.

Mabuyane is urging residents to stay at home as the coronavirus pandemic is expected to reach its peak in the province in the coming days.

It is the education system that's the real worry, with at least three pupils dying from the virus. Eight teachers have died.

More than 1,500 people in the Eastern Cape's education system have been infected with COVID-19 and the number of deaths is creeping up.

Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade said, "in terms of the unconfirmed statistics of the Department of Health to us, it's 25 but the confirmed ones is 15. Out of that 15, we have got learners that are three, we have got four that are non-teaching staff and eight that are teachers."

Gade said the province proposes that the reopening of schooling for other grades be delayed.

The MEC believes the reopening of schools should depend on the impact of and rise in infections.

eNCA