CAPE TOWN, July 6 (Xinhua) -- South Africa reported 173 deaths related with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day record since the outbreak in early March, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said early Monday.
This brought the death toll to 3,199, Mkhize said in his daily update.
Of the new deaths, 71 were reported in Gauteng Province, 40 in Western Cape, 29 in Eastern Cape, 21 in KwaZulu Natal, 10 in Free State and two in Northern Cape.
"We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who treated the deceased," Mkhize said.
Meanwhile, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 196,750, with 8,773 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, the minister said.
Western Cape remained the epicenter with 69,531 cases, followed by Gauteng with 63,404, Eastern Cape with 35,648 and KwaZulu-Natal with 151,46.
South Africa has conducted a total of 1,830,161 tests, Mkhize said.
The number of recoveries stood at 93,315, which translates to a recovery rate of 47.4 percent, he said.
Also on Monday, South Africa further reopened its schools despite the upsurges in confirmed COVID-19 cases and related deaths.
The reopening involved Grades R, 6 and 11 learners, Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga announced on Sunday.
For provinces that are not ready to receive Grade R, they must provide strategic and realizable plans for ensuring the reincorporation of Grade R learners to schools within, but not later than, the end of July 2020, the minister said. Enditem
