Health MEC believes KZN's recovery rate will improve

"Our recovery rate is quite slow, the reason for that is the second wave hit us in one go. What happens, is with the positive cases, the virus stays in your system for at least 10 days before they are recovered," she says. 

The Health MEC says they found that in the past few days the numbers have stagnated around 85,000 but she believes in the next 7 days the numbers will be going down.

READ: Health Dep launches probe into Wentworth Hospital after shocking video emerges

Simelane-Zulu held a public awareness exercise in Kwamashu yesterday. 

She says people who were diagnosed with coronavirus recently, are recovering slowly. 

"The issue of recoveries does not amount to the people who are hospitalised. It's everyone who has been infected. Majority of those people are self-isolating and are at home and adhering to protocols. So, we are working on assuring that those who are in the system can be discharged once they are better," she adds. 

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa says new cases in KZN and Cape Town have exceeded the peak of the first wave. 

He says KwaZulu Natal's situation is serious, "The province with the highest average number of cases over the last seven days is KwaZulu-Natal. Since New Year’s Day, we have recorded nearly 190,000 new coronavirus infections." 

The country has recorded more than 4,600 COVID-19 deaths so far this year.

READ: Ramaphosa reveals COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan for SA

Addressing the nation last night, the President said conditions are dire at the country's hospitals. 

More than 15 thousand people diagnosed with coronavirus are currently hospitalised. "In several parts of the country, hospital admissions are also much higher now than during the first wave. This places a considerable strain on health facilities, personnel and equipment. Around a third of all COVID-19 patients in hospitals are on oxygen."