240 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has announced that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa has increased to 240 as of Saturday (21 March).

The Western Cape has seen the greatest increase in reported coronavirus cases – up to 74 from 56 on Friday.

However, Gauteng remains the province with the most reported cases, up to 125 from 109 on Friday. The Eastern Cape has also reported its first case.

On Saturday, global cases stood at 277,312 and 11,554 deaths. 91,994 people have recovered.

“Of the 38 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, we wish to confirm the first imported COVID-19 case in the Eastern Cape Province that tested positive for SARS-CoV- 2 from a 28-year-old female who travelled to Germany,” the NICD said.

“The Gauteng Province continues to dominate the total share of confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by the Western Cape Province and the KwaZulu-Natal Province, respectively.”

The provincial breakdown of the 38 new cases is as follows:

Eastern Cape Province

• A 28-year-old female who travelled to Germany

Gauteng Province

• An x-year-old male who travelled to France
• A 55-year-old male with pending travel history
• A 26-year-old male with pending travel history
• A 34-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 43-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 61-year-old male with pending travel history
• A 6-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 29-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 45-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 64-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 67-year-old male who travelled to France and Ethiopia
• A 39-year-old male who travelled to the United Kingdom
• A 72-year-old female who travelled to Belgium and the Netherlands
• A 41-year-old male who travelled to France and Italy
• A 37-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 30-year-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands

KwaZulu-Natal Province

• A 59-year-old male with pending travel history
• A 68-year-old male with pending travel history
• A 26-year-old female who travelled to the United States of America and the United Kingdom

Western Cape Province

• A 30-year-old female who travelled to Ireland
• A 57-year-old female who travelled to Germany and Switzerland
• A 55-year-old who travelled to France and Switzerland
• A 74-year-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom
• A 52-year-old male with pending travel history
• A 44-year-old male who travelled to the United States of America
• A 26-yer-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom
• A 57-year-old male who travelled to Spain
• A 36-year-old male who travelled the United Kingdom and France
• A 40-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 52-year-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom
• A 48-year-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom
• A 39-year-old male who travelled to Dublin and Ireland
• A 36-year-old male with pending travel history
• A 55-year-old female with pending travel history
• A 45-year-old male who travelled to Germany and Austria
• A 65-year-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom
• A 34-year-old male with pending travel history

Lockdown? 

On Friday, Gauteng Premier David Makhura warned that South Africa may face a national lockdown unless the coronavirus spread is contained.

Gauteng is the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak and currently has 109 confirmed infections, with 33 of these infections reported in the last day.

“A lockdown may just be where we are all headed and the decision to do so has to be made by our national leadership,” said Makhura.

“We will raise it with the president. We are watching these numbers very closely and we are worried,” said Makhura.

He expressed absolute confidence in president Cyril Ramaphosa and the leadership team to do the right thing.

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