“This morning, we wake South Africans up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from Covid-19.
"These two deaths occurred in the Western Cape. One at a private hospital and the other at a public hospital,” Mkhize said in a statement.
“We will give more details later on," he said.
The deceased are a 28 year-old woman and a 48 year-old woman.
The health ministry also announced that by Friday morning, the number of positive coronavirus infections around the country had surpassed 1,000.
This is a developing story.
South Africa records first deaths as a result of Covid-19
Image: STR/AFP
South Africa has recorded its first fatalities due to the coronavirus, the health ministry announced on Friday.
In a short statement nine hours into the official 21 day lockdown, health minister Zweli Mkhize said two people had died as a result of Covid-19.
“This morning, we wake South Africans up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from Covid-19.
"These two deaths occurred in the Western Cape. One at a private hospital and the other at a public hospital,” Mkhize said in a statement.
“We will give more details later on," he said.
The deceased are a 28 year-old woman and a 48 year-old woman.
The health ministry also announced that by Friday morning, the number of positive coronavirus infections around the country had surpassed 1,000.
This is a developing story.
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