The Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that South Africa is now in a second wave of COVID-19. The latest data shows that 6 709 people contracted the corona virus in the past 24 hours. The country’s total confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic are now – 828 598.
According to the Minister, four provinces that are drivers of this new wave are:
- Western Cape (30%)
- Eastern Cape (24%)
- Kwazulu Natal (23%)
- Gauteng (17%)
Meanwhile, 135 people died from the virus, taking the total death toll to – 22 574. The Eastern Cape leads with 56 deaths. Followed by the Western Cape with 48, Gauteng 16, Free State 15, and Kwa-Zulu Natal 7.
Dr Mkhize says the age distribution of new cases is 15-19 age group. “This is believed to be due to large number of parties involving young people drinking alcohol with no adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions, i.e. wearing of masks, social distancing and hand and surface sanitizing.”
Provincial Breakdown – Positive Cases
| PROVINCE | CASES (AS OF 09 DECEMBER 2020) | % TOTAL |
| Eastern Cape | 140 647 | 17,0 |
| Free State | 59 501 | 7,2 |
| Gauteng | 240 261 | 29,0 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 134 184 | 16,2 |
| Limpopo | 18 940 | 2,3 |
| Mpumalanga | 31 906 | 3,9 |
| North West | 35 223 | 4,3 |
| Northern Cape | 23 517 | 2,8 |
| Western Cape | 144 419 | 17,4 |
| Total | 828 598 | 100 |
Breakdown of Global Cases
| REGION | CASES (AS OF 09 DECEMBER 2020) |
| America | 28 832 193 |
| Europe | 20 869 839 |
| South-East Asia | 11 195 661 |
| Eastern Mediterranean | 4 378 210 |
| Africa | 1 571 911 |
| Western Pacific | 931 803 |
| Total | 67 780 361 |
Source – World Health Organisation
Source: sacoronavirus.co.za
** If you think you have been exposed to the COVID-19, please call the government’s 24-hour hotline on 0800 029 999 or visit https://sacoronavirus.co.za/ for more information.
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