South Africa records highest coronavirus deaths in a day

Five patients undergoing treatment for coronavirus in South Africa have died - the highest number in a single day for the country. 

The deaths were confirmed on Wednesday, brining the total number of lives lost to 18. 

The Department of Health tweeted a breakdown of the deaths by age and province. Kwazulu-Natal was the worst affect region, with 9 deaths. The youngest patient to die was a 46 year old woman in the same province. 

South Africa has so far confirmed 1,845 cases of the coronavirus. The country is on a three-week lockdown that comes to an end on 16th April. 

This week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a massive increase in testing, with targets of 30,000 people every day. 67 mobile testing units have also been unveiled in order to reach remote and poorer regions of the country.

Photo: EPA