‘THE STORM IS HERE’
…More than 3, 000 infections a dayin KZN, says Premier Sihle Zikalala
JOHANNESBURG - KwaZulu- Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has sounded the alarm for Covid-19 infections, saying the province registered 20, 000 more positive cases in just one week.
“The picture has dramatically changed. We have now arrived at a point where almost everyone knows somebody who has been infected with Covid-19. It is no longer a disease from the distance, it is here at home,” he said in a late Sunday briefing.
Zikalala said the surge was continuing, with eThekwini and uMgungundlovu districts recording more than half of the daily cases.
The province has contributed 27 percent of the new cases reported nationally and continues to be the fourth highest countrywide.
Said Zikalala: “A week ago, we had 40, 045 positive cases, of which 2, 574 were still active. We also had 2, 758 new cases, and 11, 055 recoveries. As of July 25, 2020), KZN has had 60, 602 positive cases, of which 38, 667 were still active. Sadly, we once again had new deaths this week, bringing our death toll to 614.”
He said the daily cases was nearing 4 000.
Meanwhile, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe has been discharged after he was hospitalised for Covid-19 earlier this month.
Mantashe and his wife tested positive for the virus on July 14 and went into self-quarantine at their home.
Less than a week later, the minister was admitted to hospital for further medical attention and monitoring.
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi, who tested positive for Covid-19, has also since been hospitalised.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel was the latest member of the executive to test positive for Covid-19 after he received his results on Saturday.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who also tested positive, has since recovered.