South Africa has been faced with the dire impact of the lockdown caused by the 2020 global pandemic (COVID-19, Coronavirus 2020 OUTBREAK). As each passes one can only wonder how many more cases have been discovered. Since the outbreak, there has been a lot of myths and misinformation about the virus and how it’s spread. WHO (WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION) has been incredibly informative about the disease since it was detected.
In South Africa, you can check coronavirus daily stats on the Government’s COVID-19 Official Website, as well as Gov.za.
South Africa surpassed the 10 000-mark on 10 May 2020, when the Health Department confirmed a total number of 10 015 total cases of coronavirus.
“As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 10 015. 10015. We note with concern that the Western Cape and Eastern Cape combined comprises 84% of the total new cases.”
At the time, a total of 341 336 tests had been conducted, on the 20th the number of tests conducted surpassed half a million, more and more tests are done each day.
“As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 18 003. A total of 505 861 tests have been conducted with 18 252 done in the last 24-hour cycle.”
It is unfortunate that the number of deaths has been increasing rapidly, on the 20th there were a total number of 339 deaths reported.
“Regrettably, we report a further 27 COVID-19 related deaths- this brings the total national deaths to 339. The total number of recoveries to date is 8950.” writes the National Department of Health in a statement.
The number of recoveries is on the rise, as of 20 May 2020 they were at 8950.
Sadly, the first neonatal mortality related to COVID-19 was recorded in South Africa when a 2-day old prematurely born baby suffered lung difficulties which required ventilation support immediately after birth.
‘The mother had tested positive for COVID-19 and the child subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 as well. ‘
‘It is important to appreciate the complexities of the underlying condition of prematurity. We extend a special word of comfort to the mother of this child and salute the neonatologists, nurses, and all allied and technical personnel who had the difficult task of caring for the neonate to the end.’
In South Africa it has been reported that more and more health workers have tested positive for coronavirus – NDH (National Department of Health) reported a death a health worker in Western Cape.
‘We are also devastated to have registered the death of a health care worker in the Western Cape. When COVID-19 claims the lives of the very people who are the bedrock of the national response, we feel the loss in so many ways.’
The NDH sends a special tribute to the health workers who are hard at work in the midst of the outbreak of COVID-19.
‘We want to send a special tribute to the health care workers who continue to serve with honor and compassion, despite the real risks they face in the frontline. Our hearts go out to the family, colleagues, and loved ones of this compatriot: we salute her for the contribution she has made to the fight against COVID-19.
We wish to express our condolences to all the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who cared for the deceased.’
North West and Northern Cape are the provinces with fewer cases. As of 20 May 2020 North West and Northern Cape have recorded 28 and 27 recoveries respectively with one death for each province.
The most concerning number of death is in Western Cape with 210 deaths recorded on the 20th of May. Mpumalanga is the only province with no death records. North West is fast approaching Limpopo and Mpumalanga with the number of cases standing at 72 on the 20th and 5 more cases within 24 hours (21 May 2020). Northern Cape at 38 is officially the province with the lowest cases in the country.
on 21 May 2020 the number of confirmed cases in South Africa was at 19 137. This is a massive increase in 1134 newly discovered cases. 30 more deaths have been reported bringing to total to 369 as of 21 May 2020.
Globally, as of 22 May 2020 there were over 5 million cases of COVID-19, Coronavirus since it was first detected in China, Wuhan. In South Africa, as of 22 May 2020 – there’s a total number of 20125 confirmed coronavirus cases.
‘Regrettably, we report a further 28 COVID-19 related deaths- this brings the total national deaths to 397. We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who cared for the deceased.’
‘The total number of recoveries to date is 10 104.’
