South African Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 772 new coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of infections to 651,521, reported Anadolu Agency.
The ministry informed that 142 more people lost their lives due to coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 15,641. The country has conducted nearly 4 million coronavirus tests and over 583,000 people have recovered from the virus.
South Africa is the worst coronavirus affected country In the African continent. The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 931,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since it originated in Wuhan, China in December last year. The US, India, Brazil and Russia are among the worst-hit countries in the world.
According to data from US-based Johns Hopkins University, over 29 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 19.9 million.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to address the nation on Wednesday night. He is expected to announce moving the country to Level 1 of the national lockdown and opening up international travel – with provisos amid declining daily infection rates.
The South African president also chaired a virtual meeting of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) on progress towards the finalization of a national economic recovery plan.
In related news, South African Health Department has confirmed that AstraZeneca has resumed the COVID-19 vaccine trials taking place in the country, almost more than a week after tests were stopped due to serious side effects in a participant in Britain.
The move comes after the British drugmaker got the go-ahead to restart trials in the UK on Saturday, prompting Brazil to follow suit. Tests are still on hold in the United States pending an investigation and the Serum Institute of India said it would restart its trials once it had permission from the Drugs Controller General of India.
