National Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said SA now has a cumulative total of 1 127 759 Covid-19 cases with 14 410 new cases reported since the last report.
A cumulative total of 6 828 147 tests have been conducted with 47 875 tests in the last 24 hours, Mkhize said.
The minister said a total of 513 new deaths have also been reported on Tuesday to bring the total COVID-19 related deaths to 30 524.
Most of the new fatalities are from the Eastern Cape, which has recorded 124 new deaths, Free State 14, Gauteng 64, Kwa-Zulu Natal 92, Limpopo three, Northern Cape 14 and Western Cape 202. This brings the total deaths to 30 524.
Mkhize added that the country’s recoveries stand at 920 879 recoveries with a recovery rate of 81.6%
As of today, the total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases is 1 127 759, the total number of deaths is 30 524 and the total number of recoveries is 920 879. pic.twitter.com/8NQsP7zYml
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) January 5, 2021
Speaking to Cape Talk in an interview earlier today, senior medical epidemiologist at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Dr Harry Moultrie, said the Garden Route had shown a sustained decline over the last two weeks.
He added that the NCCC had some tough decisions to make when they meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa tomorrow.
“The decisions are going to focus on what restrictions can they ease and whether any additional restrictions might be necessary in other areas,” he said.
There is no word yet when Ramaphosa will address the nation.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.