Covid-19 update: SA records 9 420 cases, lockdown questioned
Saturday saw South Africa reaching 9 420 Covid-19 cases, with 186 fatalities reported. Briefly.co.za explores the latest updates on the crisis.
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South Africa continues to record new coronavirus cases and it is becoming evident that the nation's patience is starting to wear thin with regards to the lockdown.
Briefly.co.za explores the top stories as the country endures the unprecedented situation.
1. Covid-19: Minister Mkhize confirms 525 new cases, 186 fatalities
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has confirmed the latest statistics in the continued battle against the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Health Ministry reported that a staggering 525 new cases have been recorded.
"There are 525 new confirmed Covid-19 cases, with the total number of confirmed cases at 9 420. A total of 324 079 Covid-19 tests has been conducted, of which 16 327 are new tests from those reported yesterday."
2. Steenhuisen and Mboweni go full nuclear as Twar erupts over lockdown
On Friday, DA leader John Steenhuisen slammed the lockdown as warned that it could be deadlier than the coronavirus as millions face uncertainty and hardship.
He demanded that the economy be re-opened. Steenhuisen said that the lockdown was not working and was doing more harm than good.
Briefly.co.za discovered that this prompted Tito Mboweni to take a swipe at Steenhuisen on Twitter. This was the spark that ignited a Twitter war between the two as they took turns insulting each other and doing what people on Twitter do.
3. 83% of readers call for an end to the lockdown cigarette ban
The lockdown has been frustrating for many South Africans, however, what has made a lot of people unhappy with the cigarette ban.
Briefly.co.za asked our readers if cigarettes should be sold and why. Out of the 64 000 votes, 83% of our readers wanted the ban on cigarettes to be lifted. A general theme running through the comments is that smoking is a powerful way to relieve stress and the lockdown is very stressful.
4. Coronavirus: ANC wants Western Cape to back to lockdown level 5
Western Cape has increased its screening rate and as a result, their number of confirmed cases has ballooned.
The ANC wants the province to return to level 5 of the lockdown to slow down the rate of infection.
"This province faces its biggest health challenge ever and needs to go back to the Level 5 quarantine urgently to slow down infections," MPL Danville Smith said in a statement.
By Friday the Western Cape had reported 535 more confirmed cases according to News24.
"The DA-led Western Cape government must face the fact that half of the people infected in South Africa come from this province. Hot spots are also shooting up outside of the Cape Town metro like also in the Witzenberg, Winelands and Stellenbosch municipal areas."
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Source: Briefly News
