S.Africa reports record rise in COVID-19 cases

South Africa has reported a sharp rise in novel coronavirus infections with 7,210 cases reported in a single day on Saturday, and another 6,334 on Sunday, the Health Ministry said.

"We are seeing a rapid rise in the cumulative number of positive COVID-19 cases indicating that, as we had expected, we are approaching a surge during the latter winter months of July and August,'' Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced in a statement Sunday night.

Mkhize said as of Sunday the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 138,134, with the death toll hitting 2,456 and recoveries standing at 68,925.

The minister said 43 new fatalities were reported on Sunday, while a day earlier the country recorded 73 deaths from the disease. The highest fatalities were recorded in the tourism hub of Western Cape.

"It is anticipated that while every province will unfortunately witness an increase in their numbers, areas where there is high economic activity will experience an exponential rise- beginning with Gauteng (Johannesburg & Pretoria) and Western Cape and followed by Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces," he said.

The minister added that 1.5 million people have been tested for the virus since it was first detected in the country nearly three months ago.