Covid-19 update: 12,771 new cases identified in South Africa

As of Thursday, South Africa has recorded a total of 2.734,973 positive cases of Covid-19, with 12,771 new cases recorded since the last report, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has announced.

This increase, according to the institute, represents a 19.3% positivity rate.

“As per the National Department of Health, a further 357 Covid-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 80,826 to date,” it said in a statement.

“16.228,941 tests have been conducted in both public and private sectors as per the table below.”

The majority of new cases today are from KwaZulu-Natal (28%), followed by Western Cape (24%). Eastern Cape accounted for 13%; Gauteng Province accounted for 9%; Free State accounted for 8%; Northern Cape accounted for 7%; Mpumalanga accounted for 5%; North West accounted for 4%, and Limpopo Province accounted for 2% of today’s new cases, said the institute.

While the 7-day moving average daily number of cases has decreased, there has been an increase of 495 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.

Updating the country on the Covid-19 crisis in the Western Cape on Thursday, Premier Alan Winde said the province had 39,462 active Covid-19 infections, with a total number 482, 728 cases to date and 425, 428 recoveries.

The total number of deaths stands at 17, 838.

“By 5pm on 25 August 2021, the Western Cape Government had administered a cumulative total of 1.837, 310 vaccines to healthcare workers, staff in the education sector and those within eligible age brackets. The current 7-day moving average is 93 deaths per day,” said Winde.

Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde