SA Covid-19 deaths pass 500, as 43 deaths recorded in 24 hours

South Africa has 24,264 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 524 deaths.

This was an increase of 649 cases and 43 fatalities in the past 24 hours.

The figures come 24 hours after what was SA's deadliest day, when 52 deaths were reported in a 24-hour period. It means that 95 deaths (about 18% of the total deaths) have been recorded in the last two days alone.

The statistics were released by health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday night.

The provincial breakdown of cases, deaths and recoveries was on Tuesday provided as:

• Western Cape — 15,829 cases, 363 deaths, 7,844 recoveries;
• Gauteng — 3,043 cases, 31 deaths, 1,919 recoveries; 
• Eastern Cape — 2,864 cases, 70 deaths, 1,491 recoveries;
• KwaZulu-Natal — 1,927 cases, 49 deaths, 1,180 recoveries;
• Free State — 206 cases, 6 deaths, 123 recoveries;
• Limpopo — 132 cases, 3 deaths, 65 recoveries;
• North West — 115 cases, 1 death, 29 recoveries;
• Mpumalanga — 103 cases, 0 deaths, 61 recoveries; and
• Northern Cape — 45 cases, 1 deaths, 29 recoveries.

The figures are from 605,991 total tests, of which 9,214 were in the last 24-hour cycle.