Covid-19 in SA: 1 168 new cases recorded, 52 deaths

Cape Town - South Africa’s Covid-19 death rate rose to 49 993 on Sunday, after 52 more people died from the coronavirus, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

The country recorded 1 168 new cases of the coronavirus on February 28, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 1 513 393 with 33 141 active cases, Mkhize said.

Recoveries now stand at 1 430 259, representing a recovery rate of 94.5%.

Four provinces recorded zero deaths on Sunday with 4 deaths recorded in the Eastern Cape, 4 in the Free State, 25 in Gauteng, 2 in KwaZulu-Natal and 17 in the Western Cape 17.

The number of health care workers vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol is 70 527 as of 7.30 pm on Sunday, Mkhize said.

The latest report from the Health Department comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country would move to lockdown level 1 from midnight.

Ramaphosa said that the Cabinet had decided to ease restrictions on movement and activity due to a decline in coronavirus infections, downgrading the national alert level from 3 to 1.

"The country has now clearly emerged from the second wave," Ramaphosa said.

IOL