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HEALTH-VIRUS-SAFRICA
South Africa’s coronavirus cases rise sharply to 709: minister
JOHANNESBURG, March 25, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – South Africa reported that its
number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus jumped to 709 on Wednesday
from 554 the previous day, an increase of 28 percent.
South Africa, which now has the highest numbers of infections on the
continent, has ordered a 21-day lockdown which rolls into action at midnight
on Thursday.
“Right now we have actually increased from yesterday, we are now at 709
cases,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in an interview on the state
broadcaster SABC.
Mkhize, who reported 554 cases on Tuesday, said he expects the numbers to
rise further in coming days anweeks.
Starting Wednesday last week the country closed its borders to non-
citizens from high-risk countries.
The flag carrier South African Airways has also suspended all
international, regional and domestic flights to curb the spread of the virus.
The country’s first infections were imported from Europe, but the minister
said there were now recording internal transmissions.
“The tendency is changing from imported to internal transmission. There is
quite a lot of local spread,” he said.
South Africa has so far not reported any deaths and only two of its
hospitalised patients are in intensive care units, he said.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1433 hrs