Active COVID-19 cases shows decline in SA, recovery rate rises to 83%
The Health Department has reported 9010 new covid-19 infections in the country over the past 24-hours.
That is the first time that number has dipped below the 10 000 mark since December.
Meanwhile, there's been a further 344 coronavirus related deaths.
91 of those fatalities were from KZN. That is the highest number of deaths from all nine provinces.
The encouraging news is that the recovery rate continues to rise day by day. It now stands at 83%.
Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize says it is going to take a while before the healthcare system in KZN feels any sort of reduction in terms of the number of cases.
"In KZN there is a lot of concern that the number of people infected is still very high and I can see that we look at these numbers, they are more than the numbers of positivity rate per day or a week, is almost twice as much as what we had."
READ: Zweli Mkhize in KZN to inspect health facilities
"Therefore, even if the numbers may start to reduce it's going to take a while for the provincial health system will begin to feel the reduction," says Mkhize.
Mkhize made the remarks at a media briefing during an oversight visit of public and private hospitals in Durban yesterday.
He visited Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Umlazi where he was briefed by various department heads and is currently on a walkabout of the Umhlanga Private Hospital.
Mkhize says residents should continue to follow lockdown regulations
Our next stop is the EMS base at King Dinuzulu Hospital. This will be used as a field hospital if beds run out in the city @ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/l6ONz71rRG
— Nushera Soodyal (@nushera) January 18, 2021
