Covid-19: Minister Zweli Mkhize confirms 5 coronavirus deaths
Gauteng recorded its first death due to the coronavirus when a 79-year-old man passed away on 30 March.
The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced on 31 March, that South Africa has recorded five deaths due to coronavirus.
The first recorded death was that of a 48-year-old woman in the Western Cape, with the second being an 85-year-old man from the Free State, who had attended the Divine Restoration Church Ministries conference where a number of infections were detected.
The third death was that of a 79-year-old Gauteng man. Two deaths have also been recorded in KwaZulu-Natal – a 74-year-old man in Ladysmith and a 46-year-old woman with chronic asthma and hypertension.
To date, over 39 000 tests have been conducted across the country. Mkhize said the government plans to escalate the testing and screening of patients. Over 10 000 field workers will be brought on board.
“We are converting teams from NGOs to assist with testing. We have decided to be targeted. We will go for hotspots. We had a defensive approach but now we will go into areas where the virus is spreading,” Mkhize said.
Mobile vans will be utilised to assist with screening and testing.
Gauteng still has the highest number of cases in the country, will over 600 cases recorded.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has expressed his condolences following the passing of the 79-year-old man, who tested positive for Covid-19. “I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences and express our collective grief to the family and friends of the deceased,” the premier said in a statement after the province recorded its first death due to the virus.
The man was admitted to a private hospital in Mogale City on Saturday, 28 March 2020 and passed away on Monday, 30 March.
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