Cyril Ramaphosa was unable to deliver his address to the nation on Sunday night, and the troublesome burden of announcing the latest figures on South Africa’s coronavirus crisis fell on the shoulders of health minister Zweli Mkhize once more. The government confirmed a spike in new cases this evening.
LATEST CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-1922 March 2020As of today, South Africa now has 274 confirmed cases of COVID-19. This means there has been an increase of 34 from yesterday’s confirmed cases #COVID19
— Department of Health (@HealthZA) March 22, 2020
Coronavirus cases in South Africa – latest news and updates
On Saturday, we were made aware that 240 people had contracted COVID-19. That has now escalated in the past 24 hours, to reach 274 – up by another 14%. As of Sunday 22 March, there are no deaths to report in Mzansi. But given the mortality rate of coronavirus and its exponential spreading capabilities, this is a matter of ‘when and not if’.
Alarmingly, South Africa looks like it is on a similar trajectory to Italy – the nation which has recorded the most deaths from coronavirus. Almost 800 people died in the European country as a result of the illness on Saturday, with the UK and Spain set for more misery this week.
COVID-19 death toll remains at zero in South Africa
The latest social distancing measures have been introduced to try and slow the spread of COVID-19, and help an already-concerned medical industry deal with an influx of cases. Recreational establishments have been told to close earlier than usual, and a travel ban remains in place for the foreseeable future.
Here’s where all cases of coronavirus are in South Africa, and who has been affected:
- Eastern Cape: Two
- Free State: Nine
- Gauteng: 132
- KZN: 36
- Limpopo: One
- Mpumalanga: Six
- Western Cape: 88
- North West and Northern Cape: Zero
- 170 cases have affected males, whereas 104 have hit females.
- Those aged between 31 – 40 are the worst-affected group, with 69 positive cases.
- Fifteen people aged 20 or younger have contracted coronavirus. That includes nine children under the age of 11.
