COVID-19: SA records more than 15k cases, positivity rate sits at 27,6%

South Africa recorded more than 15 000 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, 21 December, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). The 55 877 tests conducted over the past 24 hours represent a positivity rate of 27,6 percent, down from yesterday’s  29,9 percent.

SA ADDS 15 424 NEW COVID-19 CASES

The 15 424 new COVID-19 cases detected in South Africa on Tuesday brings the total number of active cases in the country to 199 426. Unfortunately, 35 more people died of COVID-19-related complications, according to the NICD, bringing the death toll to 90 488.

There were 633 people admitted to hospital for COVID-19 treatment within the latest testing cycle. The 259 private and 407 public hospitals reporting to the NICD now have 9023 patients admitted.

“The proportion of positive new cases/total new tested today is 27,6% which is lower than yesterday (29,9%). The 7-day average is 30,1% today, which is lower than yesterday (31,1%),” said the NICD.

PROVINCIAL BREAKDOWN

The majority of the cases identified on Tuesday were found in KwaZulu-Natal (26%), followed by Western Cape (22%) and Gauteng (21%).

The list was completed by the Eastern Cape (9%), Free State (6%), North West (5%), and Limpopo and Mpumalanga – which accounted for 4 percent, respectively – while the Northern Cape accounted for 3 percent of Tuesday’s cases.

The list below shows the new COVID-19 cases identified by province and the bracketed figure represents the cases detected on the previous day:

• Eastern Cape – 1442 cases (651);
• Free State – 928 cases (402);
• Gauteng – 3316 cases (1890);
• KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) – 4009 cases (2496);
• Limpopo – 619 cases (221);
• Mpumalanga – 555 cases (333);
• North West – 831 cases (601);
• Northern Cape – 400 cases (296);
• Western Cape – 3324 cases (1625); and
• Unallocated – 0 cases.