South Africa's coronavirus death toll crosses 30,000

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – With 434 more fatalities recorded over the past day, South Africa’s coronavirus death toll has passed 30,000, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced Monday evening.

“We have breached the 30,000 mark for the cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths. We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed,” he said.

The country’s overall fatality count now stands at 30,011, he said.

A total of 12,601 new coronavirus cases were confirmed across South Africa over the past 24 hours, with the number of daily tests at 37,419, according to the minister.

“As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 1,113,349, and the total number of recoveries is 911,573,” Mkhize said.

South Africa has conducted some 6.7 million COVID-19 tests to date, he added.

With over 60,000 active cases, the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal is the epicenter of the outbreak in South Africa, which remains the worst-hit country on the continent.