SA records 2 334 new COVID-19 cases

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

South Africa has recorded 2 334 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 662 032.

In a statement on Tuesday, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said the increase represents a 7.3% positivity rate.

The majority of new cases are from Gauteng (39%), followed by Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Western Cape, each accounting for 15%.

The North West accounted for 8%; Mpumalanga 7%; the Eastern Cape and Free State each accounted for 5%. Limpopo accounted for 3% and the Northern Cape accounted for 2% of the new cases.

“The proportion of positive new cases/total new tested today is 7.3%, which is lower than yesterday (7.4%). The 7-day average is 8.0% today, which is lower than yesterday (8.1%),” the NICD said on Tuesday.

Due to the ongoing audit exercise by the National Department of Health (NDoH), the NICD said there may be a backlog of COVID-19 mortality cases reported.

“Today, the NDoH reports 64 deaths and of these, one occurred in the past 24 – 48 hours. This brings the total fatalities to 98 868 to date,” the NICD said.

There has been an increase of 73 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.

A total of 22 928 257 tests have been conducted in both public and private sectors. – SAnews.gov.za