Covid-19 claims 848 lives in SA as infections reach 40,792

Health minister Zweli Mkhize said the number of Covid-19 cases had increased to 40,792 on Thursday - an increase of 3,267 cases in 24 hours.

"Regrettably, we report 56 more Covid-19 related deaths," he said.

These consisted of 54 in the Western Cape and one each in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

The combined national death toll now stands at 848 people.

"The recoveries to date are 21,311. This translates to a recovery rate of 52.24%," added Mkhize.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to visit Cape Town on Friday to "assess the Western Cape’s provincial response to the Covid-19 pandemic".

The provincial breakdown of cases, deaths and recoveries was on Thursday provided as:

• Eastern Cape —  4,936 cases, 95 deaths, 2,460 recoveries
• Western Cape — 27,006 cases, 651 deaths, 14,917 recoveries
• Gauteng —  4,845 cases, 33 deaths, 2,222 recoveries
• KwaZulu-Natal — 2,869 cases, 55, 1,260 recoveries
• Free State — 322 cases, 9 deaths, 128 recoveries
• North West — 364 cases, 1 death, 59 recoveries
• Limpopo — 206 cases, 3 deaths, 146 recoveries
• Mpumalanga — 144 cases, 0 deaths, 86 recoveries
• Northern Cape — 95 cases, 1 death, 33 recoveries

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