Covid-19 cases increased in SA recently. Photo: Stock/Canva
COVID-19 latest: South Africa breaches 200 000 ACTIVE cases
South Africa may be staying under level 1 of the lockdown, but COVID-19 figures continue climbing with over 24 000 new cases recorded
Covid-19 cases increased in SA recently. Photo: Stock/Canva
The latest COVID-19 numbers are in: South Africa has recorded 210 635 active infections of the respiratory illness, with Gauteng still accounting for the bulk of those cases. According to the Department of Health, the province, which is currently the epicentre of the fourth wave of infections, has 84 149 active cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday evening, 16 December 2021.
This is followed by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) which has less than half of those figures with 40 438 during the same period.
What is an active case? Well, it refers to someone who is currently infected with the virus and still infectious until they are later cleared when testing negative (and no longer considered infected). They will then form part of the number of recoveries of COVID-19.
COVID-19 UPDATE: OVER 24 000 NEW CASES, 36 DEATHS
As far as new cases are concerned, 24 785 infections have been picked up, which puts the national count since the start of the global pandemic to 3 255 816. According to the National Institute for Communicable Studies (NICD), this represents a 30.9% positivity rate.
“The proportion of positive new cases/total new tested today is 30.9% which is lower than yesterday (32.2%). The 7-day average is 28.1% today, which is higher than yesterday (28.0%),” the NICD says.
The COVID-19 death toll is now at 90 262 after 36 more people lost their lives. The cumulative number of recoveries now stand at 2 954 919 with a recovery rate of 90.8%. The NICD also says 20 516 511 tests have been conducted in both public and private sectors since the outbreak.
“The majority of new cases today are from Gauteng (27%), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (23%). Western Cape accounted for 19%; Eastern Cape accounted for 9%; Free State accounted for 6%; Mpumalanga accounted for 5%; Limpopo and North West each accounted for 4%; and Northern Cape accounted for 3% of today’s new cases”
The National Institute for Communicable Studies (NICD)
