COVID-19 in SA: Almost 500 die in single day, 9 580 new cases

South Africa’s COVID-19 death toll continues to rise, having recorded a staggering 497 fatalities on Tuesday, 29 December 2020. This brings the total number of people who have succumbed to the virus to 27 568.

The Western Cape recorded 158 COVID-related deaths, the Eastern Cape 137 , Free State 3, Gauteng 68, KwaZulu-Natal 114, Limpopo 13, Mpumalanga 2, and the Northern Cape 2.

As if that wasn’t enough, the country has also picked up more than 9 500 new infections of the respiratory illness in a 24-hour period.

“As of today the cumulative total of Covid-19 cases identified is 1,021,451 with 9,580 cases identified since the last report,” Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said in his daily updates.

“A cumulative 6,500 482,tests have been conducted with 31,457 tests completed since the last report,” he said.

However there is good news in the country’s fight against the global pandemic, as 858 456 people in the country alone have managed to defeat COVID-19, which translates to a recovery rate of 84%.

The latest figures come after Mkhize reiterated government’s plea for people to take the coronavirus seriously by wearing masks and implementing the necessary non-pharmaceutical measures to curb its spread.

South Africa is currently in its second wave of COVID-19 infections, recording between 9 000 and 12 000 new cases of the virus every day. There are currently more questions than answers as to when we can expected to see a drop in infections.

Mkhize: ‘The alcohol ban will save lives’

The minister, who briefed media after President Cyril Ramaphosa under lockdown Level 3, said health facilities were now full.

“As of now, many private hospitals are full. There are many (patients) that must go to public hospitals,” Mkhize said.

Defending the controversial decision to ban alcohol, like others in the health fraternity, the minister said this was to ease the burden on hospitals.

“The alcohol ban will greatly assist to reduce the trauma burden on our facilities over the festive season and save lives,” he said.

“The reason the hospitals are also full is because people hurt each other, they stab each other and there are accidents and in there are people who have Covid-19 and we don’t know who to prioritise.”