Johannesburg - There have now been more than 151 000 people to contract Covid-19 in South Africa, with the death toll now at 2657.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said 128 people died of the virus as of Tuesday night. Confirmed cases since March now stand at 151 209, with 73 500 recoveries.
Active cases - those of people who are currently living with the virus - stand at 75009.
Tuesday’s 128 deaths were from five provinces, with the Northern Cape, Free State, North West and Limpopo recording no new deaths.
Mkhize said the new deaths were from the following provinces:
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Western Cape, 52 deaths
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Gauteng, 36
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Eastern Cape, 25
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KZN, 11
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Mpumalanga, 4
South Africa is currently on Day 96 of its lockdown. The country is now on level 3 of an eased lockdown which has allowed millions of workers to return to work. Over 1.6 million have been tested for the virus.
The country expects its Covid-19 peak between July and August, with Gauteng currently the province with the most active cases despite the Western Cape having the most infections and death.
BREAKDOWN
Infections
Deaths
Recoveries
Active
South Africa
151209
2657
73543
75009
Western Cape
62481
1859
43120
17502
Gauteng
42881
216
10534
32131
Eastern Cape
27686
422
14081
13183
KZN
9674
126
3602
5946
North West
4187
7
651
3529
Free State
1514
9
385
1120
Limpopo
1131
10
520
601
Mpumalanga
1190
7
464
719
Northern Cape
465
1
186
278
In terms of deaths, people aged 60-69 represented the most deaths with over 26% of the deaths.
Other deaths
Age 50-59 23%
Age 70-79 18%
Age 40-49 12%
For people aged 0-9, there were 3 deaths - representing 0.1% and for people aged 10-19, there were seven deaths, representing 0.7% of deaths.
People aged 20-29 accounted for 41 deaths (or 1.5%). People aged 30-39 accounted for 158 deaths (or 6%).
Mkhize said he was sending condolences to those who had lost loved ones and thanked health workers for treating the deceased.
“We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who treated the deceased. The mortality rate is 1,8% The number of recoveries is 73 543, which translates to a recovery rate of 48,6%,” he said.