SA reports deadliest day with 844 Covid deaths

South Africa reached a grim milestone on Wednesday by reporting the highest single-day deaths and new cases as it wrestles an aggressive new wave of Covid-19. 

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced that 844 deaths and 21,832 new cases were recorded, with most casualties in the Eastern Cape province. 

The previous record for single-day deaths was 572 in July. 

The country has so far recorded 31,368 deaths since the pandemic hit out of a total of more than 1.1 million confirmed cases.

A new, faster-spreading, coronavirus variant had been detected that is believed to be driving the surge in infections.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Reuters