South Africa in the past 24 hours has recorded 3 478 new cases of the novel coronavirus. This brings the total number of positive COVID19 cases in the country to a staggering 83 890 cases as at Thursday, 18 June 2020. To this total number, the North West Province has a 1,9% contribution to the country’s coronavirus burden, with a total infection rate of 1606 cases.

The province’s infection rate increased by 205 new cases reported in the past 24 hours. MEC of Health in the North West Province, Madoda Sambatha has today met with Management of the Witrand Psychiatric Hospital in potchefstroom to address a cluster outbreak of COVID19 at the institution. The hospital is located in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District, which has a total number of 469 confirmed COVID19 cases. The district has the second most number of cases after the Bojanala Platinum District, which was declared a provincial epicenter in the early stages of the outbreak. Bojanala now has 1033 cases.

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The district with the lowest number of cases remain the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, with 7 cases. A new case has been reported in the past 24 hours in this district and it was allocated to the Greater Taung Local Municipality. Encouragingly, the district seems to also have a good recovery rate. The Department of Health in the North West Province has confirmed 5 recoveries in the district. In essence, there are two active cases in the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.

Expects have advised governments to not overlook the rise in positive cases because of the increased mortality rate. Indicating that it is important to keep an eye on the increasing infection rate equally, in an effort to increase the number of recoveries, which could significantly and potentially help in the slowing down morality rate.

-The VIP Team

-NW DoH

-National DoH