WRAP | Ministers once again brief the country on outbreak, amendments to regulationsHealth Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that the number of positive Covid-19 cases have jumped to 1 505, an increase of 43. 

It is believed that two more people have died from coronavirus in KwaZulu-Natal – an 80-year-old man and an 81-year-old woman – but medical staff are still awaiting test results. 

As it stands, the death toll remains at seven, but it will rise to nine if these two cases return positive. Mkhize was speaking in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on Friday, where there have been some positive cases. 

He was unable to say how many people have been hospitalised for Covid-19. Mkhize says the government has identified certain hotspots where mobile testing will be done from next week.

He said the government had a discussion on how to identify high-priority wards. He said the virus being seen in densely populated areas, like townships, has given the pandemic a “new dynamic”, and the government wants to hit these areas first when it comes to taking measures to curb the spread.

Meanwhile, other ministers held a virtual briefing on amendments to regulations for the lockdown. 

Minister of Mining and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, announced that three people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the mining and energy sector. One each in the Western Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.

Khumbudzo Ntshaveni, the Minister of Small Business clarified that informal traders may stay open, as was announced on Thursday, but they will need permits from their local municipality.

She said foreign nationals are also allowed to get a permit, but they need to be lawfully admitted into South African and hold a legitimate passport, or be a refugee or an asylum seeker. 

Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the government is working to address this, and is “very confident” that protective gear will be coming into the country this weekend and next week. 

“We are looking forward to a highly improved situation,” he says. Phaahla also says SA is “far, far away” from overcoming the virus outbreak, and urges people to abide by lockdown regulations.