Western Cape ANC calls on province to consider going back to Level Lockdown 5
The breakdown of cases per province was Eastern Cape – 989, Free State – 133, Gauteng – 1 851, KwaZulu-Natal – 1 253, Limpopo – 43, Mpumalanga – 60, North West – 42, Northern Cape – 27 and Western Cape – 4 497.
The Western Cape had the highest reported deaths at 88 and also carried more than 50% of the Covid-19 burden in the country at this point, according to Mkhize.
The province previously argued its rapid, active testing approach to put out “bushfires” had naturally seen more cases being declared.
The number of deaths per province is Eastern Cape – 21, Free State –
6, Gauteng – 18, KwaZulu-Natal – 42, Limpopo -3, Mpumalanga -0, North
West -0, Northern Cape -0 and Western Cape – 88.
“We are also pleased to report that as of 5 May, 8 216 605 citizens have been screened across the country,” Mkhize said.
As of Thursday, 435 patients were hospitalised, with 45 in high care, 77 in ICU and 40 being ventilated.
Mkhize said the hospitalisation rate in the country remained at 5% of all diagnosed patients.
To date, 307 752 tests have been conducted, with 15 599 done in the past 24 hours.