Correctional services Covid-19 cases climb to 755

The Department of Correctional Services confirmed that their total number of Covid-19 cases stood at 755 on Wednesday.

Departmental spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said 273 officials and 482 inmates have contracted the virus thus far.

Western Cape prisons continue to record the highest number of infected officials, with 172 cases confirmed.

Western Cape premier’s spokesperson Bianca Capazorio said although the government was not aware of the core reasons behind the rise in cases, she said the province was prone to cluster outbreaks.

The latest numbers are attributed to eight officials in the Western Cape and one official in Gauteng.

Of the new cases, Western Cape recorded eight additional cases of officials and one official from Gauteng while recoveries remained steady at 173.

The total provincial breakdown was as follows:

• Eastern Cape: officials 77; inmates 413; recoveries 72
• Western Cape: officials 172; inmates 57; recoveries 98
• Limpopo: officials 2; recovery 1
• Gauteng: officials 8; inmates 12; recovery 10
• Northern Cape: official 2
• Free State: official 1
• KwaZulu-Natal: officials 2
• Department’s head office: official 1; recovery 1

By the time of publishing the article , the department had not yet commented on the reasons behind the high rise in Western Cape cases.

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