COVID-19: SA records 1436 cases and 0 deaths

South Africa recorded 1436 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, 8 March, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). The 26 016 tests conducted over the past 24 hours represent a positivity rate of 5,5 percent.

SA ADDS 1436 NEW COVID-19 CASES

The 1436 new COVID-19 cases detected in South Africa on Tuesday brings the total number of active cases in the country to 17 490. No people died of COVID-19-related complications in the last 24 to 48 hours, according to the NICD.

The National Department of Health added 16 more deaths on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 99 625. The additional deaths are the result of an ongoing audit exercise, which could result in a backlog.

There were 46 people admitted to hospital for COVID-19 treatment within the latest testing cycle. The 259 private and 407 public hospitals reporting to the NICD now have 2478 patients admitted.

“The proportion of positive new cases/total new tested today is 5.5%, which is the same as yesterday (5.5%). The 7-day average is 6.2% today, which is lower than yesterday (6.3%),” said the NICD.

PROVINCIAL BREAKDOWN

The majority of the cases identified on Tuesday were found in Gauteng (35%), followed by the Western Cape (23%) and KwaZulu-Natal with 18 percent.

The Eastern Cape accounted for 6 percent whole North West had 5 percent and Free State and Mpumalanga each accounted for 4 percent, respectively.

Limpopo (3%) and Northern Cape (2%) rounded off the day’s cases.

The list below shows the new COVID-19 cases identified by province:

• Eastern Cape – 81 cases;
• Free State – 58 cases;
• Gauteng – 505 cases;
• KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) – 257 cases;
• Limpopo – 41 cases;
• Mpumalanga – 58 cases;
• North West – 71 cases;
• Northern Cape – 31 cases;
• Western Cape – 334 cases; and
• Unallocated – 0 cases.