Covid-19 death toll closes in on 1000
There have been another 44 coronavirus-related deaths in South Africa in the 24 hours leading to Saturday evening.
This brings the country's death toll to 952.
In his daily statement, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says despite the rise in numbers of COVID-19 related deaths, South Africa's mortality rate remains at 2%, well below the global average of 6%.
After the first six days of Level 3 lockdown the total number of confirmed cases is 45 973.
Meanwhile, the recoveries to date are 24 258, which translates to a recovery rate of 52,8%.
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Mkhize was speaking at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on Saturday during a ceremony to mark a donation of 50 ventilators from the US government. The donation comes amid a surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths over the past week as the country eased its lockdown to level 3.