SA approaches 25,000 Covid-19 deaths, with 216 in 24 hours

There were 8,789 cases confirmed in 24 hours, at a positivity rate of 24.5%

21 December 2020 - 20:34 By TimesLIVE

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SA's death toll climbed to just shy of 25,000 Covid-19 related deaths, as the total number of confirmed infections moved past 930,000.
Image: 123RF / maridav

SA’s death toll climbed to just shy of 25,000 Covid-19 related deaths, as the total number of confirmed infections moved past 930,000.

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize confirmed that 216 new coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of fatalities from the respiratory illness to 24,907.

Of these, the Eastern Cape (97) and the Western Cape (84) accounted for 83.8% of the deaths. Gauteng accounted for 16 deaths, KwaZulu-Natal 15 and the Free State four.

Mkhize also reported that there were 8,789 new cases. This means there are now 930,711 confirmed infections to date. The new infections came from 35,844 tests, at a positivity rate of 24.5%.

So far, 796,346 recoveries have been recorded.

TimesLIVE