On Tuesday morning, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that the number of coronavirus, Covid-19 cases in South Africa jumped to 554.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases increased by 152 from Monday, marking the single largest increase in cases in one day to date.
This development comes as South Africa is preparing for a nation wide lockdown in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19 infections.
The 21-day lockdown is starting at mid-night on Thursday and will shut down most South African industries.
Only essential services will remain operational during this period.
Mkhize says two patients are in ICU in private hospitals and there are no deaths at this stage. He said numbers of positive cases are still expected to increase in the next week or two. But measures like the #LockdownSA will help flatten the curve. #Covid19SA
— National Health Insurance – NHI (@NationalNhi) March 24, 2020