Media Statement
19 October 2020

As of today, the cumulative number of detected COVID-19 cases is 705 254 with 1 461 new cases identified since the last report.

Province	Total cases for 19 October 2020	Percentage total
Eastern Cape	92122	13,1
Free State	53679	7,6
Gauteng	225559	32,0
KwaZulu-Natal	121436	17,2
Limpopo	16849	2,4
Mpumalanga	28830	4,1
North West	31864	4,5
Northern Cape	20381	2,9
Western Cape	114534	16,2
Unknown	0	0,0
Total	705254	100,0

The cumulative number of tests conducted to date is 4 565 980 with 16 502 new tests conducted since the last report.

Total Deaths and Recoveries
Yesterday, we reported a cumulative total of 3 176 deaths for KwaZulu-Natal. We wish to correct this.
This was a typographical error which occurred when the total number was recorded, following verification.

We therefore confirm that yesterday’s total number of deaths for KwaZulu Natal was 3 136. This means the total number of deaths nationally for 18 October 2020 was 18 431.

We apologise for this error.

Regrettably, we report 61 COVID-19 related deaths today: 21 from Eastern Cape, 19 from the Free State, 3 from Gauteng, 1 from Mpumalanga 6 from Northern Cape, 8 from Western Cape and 3 from KwaZulu Natal.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 18 492.

Of the 61 deaths reported today, 11 were reported to have occurred in the past 24-48 hours: 3 in Gauteng, 1 in Mpumalanga and 7 in the Western Cape.

We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers that treated the deceased patients.

Our recoveries now stand at 635 257 which translates to a recovery rate of 90%

Province	Total Deaths	Total Recoveries	Active Cases
Eastern Cape	3451	86927	1744
Free State	1320	36702	15657
Gauteng	4621	204424	16514
KwaZulu-Natal	3139	112205	6092
Limpopo	435	15759	655
Mpumalanga	591	27534	705
North West	393	28589	2882
Northern Cape	254	16933	3194
Western Cape	4288	106184	4062
National	18492	635257	51505