South Africa records 801 new COVID-19 cases

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported 801 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 685 120.

The increase represents a 5.5% positivity rate.

Calls for face masks and other COVID restrictions to be dropped: Prof. Salim Abdool Karim:

The National Department of Health (NDoH) reported 62 deaths and of these, six occurred in the past 24–48 hours.

This brings the total fatalities to 99 609 to date.

About 23 259 839 tests have been conducted in both public and private sectors

The NICD continues to provide laboratory-based surveillance to inform the public health response towards COVID-19 in South Africa.