COVID-19: Death toll surpasses 30 000, over 12 000 new cases

South Africa has reached yet another sombre milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic, recording over 30 000 deaths. In the latest update on Monday, 4 January 2021, the Health Ministry said 434 people succumbed to the virus, which pushes the national death toll to 30 011.

Of the latest fatalities, the Western Cape recorded the most with 157, followed by the Eastern Cape with 133, 71 in KwaZulu-Natal, 36 in Gauteng, 25 in the North West, seven in Limpopo and two in the Free State.

South Africa has also picked up an additional 12 601 infections in the last 24 hours, taking the total caseload 1 113 349. These are cases which have been confirmed since March – when the virus was first detected.

However, there is good news as so far, 911 573 people have managed to defeat the respiratory disease, which translates to a recovery rate of 81.9%.

“A cumulative total of 6 780 272 tests have been conducted with 37 419 tests conducted since the last report,” Mkhize said.

COVID-19 DEATHS BY PROVINCE

Eastern Cape – 7716

Free State – 2189

Gauteng – 5763

KwaZulu-Natal – 4713

Limpopo – 622

Mpumalanga – 656

North West – 602

Northern Cape – 398

Western Cape – 7352

COVID-19 CASES BY PROVINCE

Province                                           Total cases for 27 December 2020

Eastern Cape                                    174 176

Free State                                          63 740

Gauteng                                             301 212

KwaZulu-Natal                                  217 432

Limpopo                                             28 333

Mpumalanga                                     39 045

North West                                        41 735

Northern Cape                                  26 019

Western Cape                                   221 657