SA records 236 new virus cases, Mkhize says impossible to test the entire country
South Africa recorded another five COVID-19 related deaths - meaning 153 people have now lost their lives.
The Health Department says there are 236 new cases of coronavirus infections - bringing the total number of those diagnosed with the virus to 7 808
Minister Zweli Mkhize says the positive news is that there've been 3 153 recoveries.
Since the country began testing for the respiratory disease - nearly 280 000 tests have been conducted nationwide - over 11 000 were done in the past 24-hours.
Breaking down the statistics, Mkhize says the Western Cape remains the epicentre of the pandemic in South Africa - with more than 3 700 cases.
KwaZulu Natal's behind Gauteng on the list with 1 189 people diagnosed and 38 deaths. Two of the five lives lost yesterday - were from KZN.
On the issue of screening and testing, Mkhize says it's impossible to test the entire nation for COVID-19.
"In some instances, people have raised that we should test everybody, well we can't test 60 million South Africans. We need to test those where the indication is very high. You can't just go test anywhere in a way that is not structured."
Speaking at a media briefing in Rustenburg on Wednesday, Mkhize said it's important to focus on provincial hot spots.
"Having looked at the alert levels, a number of the provinces and some of the districts will have a lower level of risk, and the hotspots - the ones we have been reporting about, the metros and overcrowded areas, those need additional attention."
