The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a division of the National Health Laboratory Service, as of 31 March 2020, confirms 46 new additional cases that have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen for COVID-19. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in South Africa to 1 353. Of the 46 newly tested cases, 22 were identified in Gauteng, nine in Western Cape, seven in KwaZulu-Natal, three in Limpopo, three in Mpumalanga and two in Free State provinces, respectively.
The total provincial COVID-19 cases breakdown is as follows:
| Province | Total cases as at Monday 31 March 2020 00:00 |
| Eastern Cape | 12 |
| Free State | 74 |
| Gauteng | 633 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 179 |
| Limpopo | 14 |
| Mpumalanga | 12 |
| North West | 8 |
| Northern Cape | 6 |
| Western Cape | 325 |
| Not reported | 90 |
| Total | 1353 |
The current mortality rate of the impact of COVID-19 in South Africa stands at 0.37%, accounting for five deaths. The NICD wishes to send its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. To date, the total number of laboratory conducted tests for COVID-19 stand at 41 072.
We wish to encourage South Africans to continue to heed to preventative measures to assist in flattening the COVID-19 transmission curve. While it is still early to make findings, we understand that the rate of the transmission in South Africa is expected to decline, following a number of interventions that have been put into place.
For more information on COVID-19 visit the NICD website on nicd.ac.za
