The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in South Africa has risen to 4,220.

Four more deaths have been recorded, bringing the total to 79.

This is an increase of 267 new infections from Thursday and yesterday we saw 318 new infections, the highest single jump since the virus entered South Africa’s shores in March. 

The four new deaths came from the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, with two each. This takes the death toll in the Western Cape to 30 and in KZN to 29.

The Western Cape has the most cases and the most deaths in the country.

The country has also recorded more than 1400 recoveries, with more than 800 recoveries being recorded in Gauteng and about 200 each between the Western Cape and KZN.

The minister said just over 150 000 tests had been conducted nationwide, with just under 60 000 tests being conducted in the public sector.

Meanwhile South Africa will ease lockdown restrictions from the beginning of May as the country implements a phased reopening of the economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday evening.  

From 1 May, the country will be on level 4 restrictions, which will prohibit inter-provincial travel, but the sale of additional items including cigarettes will be allowed, certain industries will reopen, and exercise will be allowed under strict conditions. 

Ramaphosa said over the past five weeks, South Africans have demonstrated to the entire world what a nation can achieve with courage, determination and solidarity. 

“There are times when we must endure hardship and difficulty, so that we can enjoy freedom and prosperity into the future,” he said.

#Covid_19 Statistics in South Africa as at 24 April 2020 pic.twitter.com/4ilNTvR8qm

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) April 24, 2020