Pedestrians are seen on the street in Johannesburg, South Africa, April 16, 2020. South Africa's COVID-19 deaths jumped by 14 in 24 hours as the novel coronavirus sickened 99 more people, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 2,605, the minister said. (Photo by Yeshiel/Xinhua)
CAPE TOWN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's COVID-19 deaths jumped by 14 in 24 hours as the novel coronavirus sickened 99 more people, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday.
"It is with regret that we inform the public that the COVID-19 related deaths is now 48," Mkhize said in his latest update on the pandemic.
Two provinces -- Limpopo and the Eastern Cape -- have recorded their first deaths, he said.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 2,605, the minister said, adding that Gauteng Province continues to be the epicenter of the epidemic with 969 cases, followed by the Western Cape with 675 and KwaZulu-Natal with 539.
Tests continue nationwide with 95,060 having been conducted so far, Mkhize said.
"We are also encouraged by the increased number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19," Mkhize said.
A total of 903 recoveries have been reported in all nine provinces, he said.
South Africa, which recorded its first COVID-19 case on March 5, has the largest number of cases on the African continent.
