Africa, Latest on coronavirus outbreak

South Africa sees 1,160 COVID-19 cases in 24 hrs

South Africa now has highest number of infections on continent, followed by Egypt

Hassan Isilow  | 18.05.2020 - Update : 19.05.2020
South Africa sees 1,160 COVID-19 cases in 24 hrs

JOHANNESBURG

South Africa registered 1,160 new cases of the novel coronavirus in 24 hours, the highest daily infection since March, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 15,515, according to the Health Ministry.

“Regrettably we report a further three COVID-19 related deaths – this brings the total national deaths to 264,” the ministry said in a statement released Sunday night.

The ministry further said it has so far done 460,873 COVID-19 tests since the pandemic was first recorded in the country in March. It said it had carried out 21,314 tests in the last 24-hour cycle.

The ministry expressed concern about developments in the Western Cape Province, a tourism hub which has the highest number of infections at 9,294.

After seeing its first case in March, South Africa now has the highest number of infections on the continent, followed by Egypt.

There were 81,307 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Africa as of Sunday, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since the virus emerged in Wuhan, China last December, it has spread to 188 countries and regions.

The global death toll from the novel coronavirus has exceeded 315,000, with more than 4.7 million confirmed cases and recoveries of over 1.73 million, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University

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