Everything we feared in South Africa has come to be. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has, for the first time, claimed the lives of two South Africans on Day One of the nationwide lockdown.
Coronavirus South Africa latest: What we know about the victims
In a statement issued by the Department of Health, Minister Dr Zwelini Mkhize confirmed, with sadness, that the country has seen the first two deaths resulting from the COVID-19 infection.
The minister was careful to not reveal much about the victims, fearing an all-out panic at a time where the country is under a complete nationwide lockdown.
All we know at this point is that the victims were from the Western Cape.
“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,” the statement read.
Mkhize confirmed that more detailed information on the victims will be provided at Friday’s media briefing, where the latest infection figures will be announced.
Latest SA infection figures
Globally, COVID-19 has infected 465 915 and recorded 21 031 deaths. This, of course, is based on figures delated by at least 24 hours.
In South Africa, Thursday’s tally of infections stood at 927, 218 more cases than the total recorded the day before. The most recent reporting will be delivered on Friday but Mkhize has already confirmed that the infections have tipped over the 1 000-mark.
“We will give more details later on, when we announce the latest confirmed COVI-19 cases, which have increased from yesterday’s (Thursday) number and have tipped the 1 000-mark,” the statement read.
