Large teddy bears, used to enforce social distancing are pictured at a hotel in Pristina on September 19, 2020 amid the crisis linked with the covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Armend NIMANI / AFP)
The official recovery rate in South Africa from Covid-19 infections now stands at 89,4% as the country prepares to enter Lockdown Level 1 at midnight on Sunday.
In a statement on Saturday evening, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced that 2,029 new cases were added to the national tally, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 659,656. In total, 589,434 recoveries have been recorded.
This means that the official death toll now stands at 15,940 after another 83 fatalities were recorded since Friday.
Of these deaths, 52 were recorded in KwaZulu-Natal, four in the Eastern Cape, five in Gauteng, and 18 in the Limpopo province.
With South Africa passing the four million test mark on Friday, another 21,069 tests were conducted in the reporting period.
Covid-19 statistics, 19 September 2020.
– More than 953,000 dead –
The pandemic has killed at least 953,025 people in the world since emerging in China late last year, according to an AFP tally on Saturday based on official sources.
More than 30.5 million people have been infected.
The United States has the most deaths with 198,597, followed by Brazil with 135,793, India with 85,619, Mexico 72,803 and Britain 41,732.
– Germany cases highest since April –
Germany records its highest daily number of new cases since April, with 2,297 new infections, according to the Robert Koch Institute for disease control.
– Iran deaths top 24,000 –
The death toll in Iran from the virus reaches 24,118, the health ministry says, blaming reduced use of face masks by the public.
Since late February, the Islamic Republic has been battling the Middle East’s deadliest outbreak of Covid-19 and infections and deaths have been on a rising trajectory this month.
– Canada opposition leader tests positive –
Canada’s conservative opposition leader Erin O’Toole tests positive for the virus, his office announces, a day after another federal party leader did too. According to statements both O’Toole and Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet are “feeling well”.
– Rio football fans -authorise
Rio de Janeiro says it will authorise football fans to return to stadiums from October 4, after a six-month hiatus for the pandemic. Fans will be required to wear face masks and undergo temperature checks at the entrance, and ticket sales will be online.
Mayor Marcelo Crivella says the city will allow up to 20,000 fans at the first match, to be played at the legendary Maracana stadium between Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense, but the decision still needs a green light from the Brazilian Football Confederation.
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