South Africa on Saturday confirmed 6336 COVID-19 cases out of 13 164 samples according to the data from the ministry of Health in that country. 

This was reported as the highest number of tests done in a 24 hour cycle to date. This now brings the total number of tests conducted in S. Africa to 230 686. 

The Ministry of Health however regretted that a further 7 COVID-19 related deaths from the Western Cape and Free State. This brings the total number of deaths to 123 nationwide. 

The report revealed that the number of recoveries now stands at 2549.

Health Minister Dr Zwelini Mkhize said, they have also started to study the deaths to begin to elucidate patterns and areas of high risk.

"We have looked at the data for patients who have been hospitalized and found that, consistent with evidence emerging worldwide, hypertension, diabetes and cardiac disease are the three most common co-morbidities associated with serious illness from COVID-19. Other co-morbidities that were seen amongst COVID-19 admitted patients were chronic pulmonary disease, asthma, chronic renal disease, malignancy, HIV, active and past tuberculosis," He added.

"I would therefore like to urge our millions of South Africans who are over 63 years of age and those who live with these conditions to take extra precaution as we ease the lockdown. I would also like to urge all South Africans to continue to stay at home as far as possible, only venturing out to perform essential tasks as we move through the stages of the gradual lifting of lockdown," he concluded.

SOURCE: Ministry of Health-South Africa