A 46-year-old woman from Umlazi is the 5th person to have died from coronavirus – Mkhize confirms

SA coronavirus death toll rises to 5. There are now 1 353 cases, with 39 500 people tested.

A 46-year-old woman from Umlazi is the 5th person to have died from coronavirus, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirms.

Ministers provided an update into the coronavirus situation in a busy afternoon

Here are three important points to know from lengthy addresses from various ministers on Tuesday afternoon:

1. Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed that five people have died from the coronavirus in South Africa. The number of confirmed cases has jumped to 1 353.

2. Mkhize also announced, however, that the current number of cases was much lower than government’s projections about how the virus would spread. He said that the government expected between 4 000 and 6 000 cases by April 1. While not wanting to get ahead of himself, Mkhize described the numbers as positive.

3. The government will allow South Africans stuck abroad to return. International Relations Minister, Naledi Pandor, said there were 1 471 people, mainly students, stuck abroad who wanted to return. She said her office will help facilitate the move. Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula said his department will allow for the repatriation of these people, but said it will be nothing similar to the scale of the recent Wuhan evacuation.

Death in KZN

Death happened a few hours ago. She is a 46-year-old woman from Umlazi who was admitted with chronic asthma and hypertension. She was tested positive in the process.

Mkhize confirms, after some initial confusion, that the updated death toll is 5.

On the issue of ventilators

Mkhize said that they’ve had a discussion with medical device manufacturers. “We need them to start building additional stock of ventilators We want to be ahead of time.”

Beware fake news

“We need to use facts to fight the coronavirus, not fake news,” Mkhize said.

Watch out for fake news- 5G & coronavirus: 5G is a technology issue and Covid is a virus. You cannot link the virus to technology.

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) March 31, 2020