Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize confirms total of 661 211 detected cases of COVID-19 in South Africa.
This is an increase of 1 555 new cases identified in the last 24 hours.
The cumulative number of tests conducted to date is 4 041 543 with 16 884 new tests conducted since the last report.
A further 13 more COVID-19 related deaths were reported: 3 from Eastern Cape 1 from KwaZulu-Natal, 3 from Gauteng and 6 from Western Cape,said Mkhize.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 15 953.
Mkhize also added that the recoveries now stand at 590 071 which translates to a recovery rate of 89,2%.
South African’s are urged to use the COVID Alert SA app to protect themselves, loved ones and the community.
More than 30.8 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus and almost 957,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 21 million people have recovered.
Meanwhile the World Health Organization has endorsed a protocol for testing African herbal medicines as potential treatments for the coronavirus and other epidemics.
WHO experts and colleagues from two other organisations “endorsed a protocol for phase III clinical trials of herbal medicine for Covid-19 as well as a charter and terms of reference for the establishment of a data and safety monitoring board for herbal medicine clinical trials,” a statement said.
“Phase III clinical trials are pivotal in fully assessing the safety and efficacy of a new medical product,” it noted.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.