Covid-19: 1 716 new cases and 40 more deaths reported

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has increased by 1 716 and the death toll has risen by 40. This brings the total number of infections to 32 683, with 683 fatalities. More than half – 16 809 or 51.4 percent – of patients have recovered.

The Western Cape still has the most confirmed cases with 21 382, accounting for 65.4 percent of all cases nationally. Gauteng has recorded 4 003 cases (12.2 percent of the national total) while Mpumalanga remains the only province with no Covid-19 related deaths.

See the stats for all provinces below:

Some 51.3 percent of deaths nationally occurred in those aged between 50 and 69 years. Four deaths have been recorded in the 0 to 19-year-old age group, while there have been 44 fatalities among those aged between 20 and 44 years.

The Department of Health has conducted 725 125 tests nationally since the outbreak of the pandemic, with 23 242 conducted within the last 24 hours.

*Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news

Dear reader,

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.

Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).