Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday as announced that South Africa has recorded 568 919 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 259 new deaths since the last report. 

Case data for the provinces shows that Gauteng still has the highest number of total infections, 194 685 (34.2 percent), followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 101 499 (17.8 percent) which is marginally ahead of the Western Cape, which has recorded 100 536 (17.7 percent). 

Eastern Cape has recorded 82 779 (14.6 percent). The figures in other provinces are Free State with 29 578 cases (5.2 percent); Limpopo with 10 875 cases (1.9 percent); Mpumalanga with 19 755 cases (3.5 percent); North West with 22 205 cases (3.9); and Northern Cape with 6 957 cases (1.2 percent).

"The total number of tests conducted to date is 3 295 434 with 16 457 new tests conducted since the last report," the minister said in his statement.

"Regrettably we report 259 new Covid-19 related deaths: 46 from Eastern Cape, 108 from Gauteng, 74 from KwaZulu-Natal, 31 from Western Cape. This brings the cumulative total of reported Covid-19 related deaths to 11 010.

"We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased. 

"The number of recoveries currently stands at 432 029 which translates to a recovery rate of 75.9 percent," the minister said. 

Recoveries and deaths by province are as follows: Eastern Cape has 2 332 deaths with 78 210 recoveries; Free State has 414 deaths with 14 522 recoveries; Gauteng has 2 761 deaths with 152 061 recoveries; KwaZulu-Natal has 1 524 deaths with 56 758 recoveries; Limpopo has 127 deaths with 8 901 recoveries; Mpumalanga has 149 deaths with 16 658 recoveries; North West has 150 deaths with 12 486 recoveries; and Northern Cape has 68 deaths with 3 698 recoveries; and Western Cape has 3 485 deaths with 88 735 recoveries.