This archive report was first published on 24 May 2020.
South Africa is grappling with a rapidly spreading Covid-19 pandemic, with the country's confirmed cases surpassing 20,000, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.
As of Friday, May 22, 2020, the total number of confirmed cases stood at 20,125, with 397 related deaths reported, up by 28 from the previous day.
The Western Cape province, the epicentre of the outbreak, led all other provinces with 12,888 confirmed cases, followed by Gauteng with 2,521, the Eastern Cape with 2,459, and KwaZulu-Natal with 1,735.
Minister Mkhize noted that the country is preparing to ease the lockdown from level four to level three by the end of May, which will allow more businesses to reopen and greater movement of people.
However, he warned that the fight against Covid-19 will become more complicated and difficult as the country enters the winter season, when flu is common.
