UPDATE: Via Business Day:

Only one person has died from Covid-19 in SA, health minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed late on Friday, after test results revealed that a second death was not related to the virus…

Mkhize confirmed on Friday evening that test results showed the younger woman had tested negative for Covid-19. After suffering respiratory distress, she was intubated and transferred to hospital during the early hours of the morning. On arrival in ICU she was declared dead.

“The clinical picture was suggestive of Covid-19 and therefore a test was conducted. Her laboratory results have since been received, at 5.20pm, and were confirmed negative,” Mkhize said.

As the lockdown in South Africa goes into full effect, the first two deaths resulting from coronavirus have been reported.

This news came after confirmed cases rose to in excess of 1 000 today, from 927 yesterday.

Both deaths occurred in the Western Cape.

Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, announced the news earlier today, reports Reuters.

“This morning, we South Africans wake up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from COVID-19,” the health ministry said in a statement.

The Department of Health will provide the public with more details later today when they confirm the latest confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Here’s the full release:

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde gave more details:

“Today, we woke up to the sad news that we, too, have seen our first casualties.  A 28 year-old woman and 48 year-old woman both passed away this morning.

“The 48 year-old woman’s condition worsened while in ICU, and she passed away this morning.

“The 28 year-old was admitted to hospital yesterday and received emergency healthcare. She also passed away this morning. The clinical picture is consistent with COVID-19 but we are awaiting the test results to confirm this.”

We will update as more information comes to light.

[source:reuters]