More tests, more positive cases - Western Cape govt
The Western Cape government says the high number of tests being conducted is partly to blame for the spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.
The provincial head of the health department Dr Keith Cloete confirmed on Thursday that the number of positive cases stood at 2371, an increase of 236 cases since Wednesday.
The province has now introduced a dashboard that can be accessed on its website to help residents track Covid-19 statistics.
"At the moment, we are running an average of above 2000 tests a day, I can confirm that it is putting significant pressure on the testing capacity of laboratories and we are in negotiations to increase the capacity from next week," said Cloete.
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The province has conducted over 35 000 tests so far.
"Our hospitalisation is also starting to go up and we are now putting plans in place for the peak when those hospitalisations start doubling."
The province has a shortage of beds, with Cloete confirming that the Cape Town International Convention Centre will be turned into a field hospital with 800 beds.