SA Covid-19 cases rise by 165, no new deaths

This is an increase of 165 new cases from the figures announced on Monday.

The number of coronavirus-related fatalities remain at 58.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize made the announcement in East London on Tuesday evening.

Mkhize handed over protective gear to the Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane at Cecilia Makhiwane Hospital.

Mkhize said the province recorded 345 new Covid-19 cases.

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He warned that the biggest risk to the spread of the virus is cultural practices at funerals.

"We immediately took a decision to urgently deploy more medical experts, including senior epidemiologists, analysts and field consultants to reinforce the provincial team, led by Dr Kerrigan McCarthy from the NICD (National Institute of Communicable Diseases). 

"We are also pleased that the World Health Organisation has also assisted us by deploying more clinicians and experts.”

Mkhize added that it is very important for people to start changing their behaviour.

"It's going to become important as we move on that there's going to be a change of behaviour, a change of how we do our daily activities so that we can now reduce the rate of the spread.

"In the next three weeks, we must make sure that first 200 are out and have been discharged so that we can focus on how to reduce the increase."