CAPE TOWN- The number of global Covid-19 cases has hit over 3.5 million and while this may seem like an alarming figure, it is also important to note that the recovery rate is increasing rapidly.
The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting 212 countries and territories around the world. While it is difficult to compare Covid-19 figures from country to country due to population and levels of development, it is noteworthy to look at national recovery rates.
The confirmed worldwide Covid-19 cases have surpassed three and a half million, however, global recoveries have increased to over 1.1 million.
Here are the latest global figures, along with South Africa's numbers and the top four countries with the highest number of Coronavirus cases.
Global total Covid-19 cases 3,581,870
Active 2,173,815
Deaths 248,555
Recoveries 1,159,500
South Africa total Covid-19 cases 6,783
Active 4,103
Deaths 131
Recovered 2,549
South Africa recorded its first Covid-19 case on 5 March 2020, and just over a week later, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster with lockdown to take effect from 23 March.
An alert system is now being used for a gradual and phased easing of the lockdown restrictions.
United States total Covid-19 cases 1,188,421
Active 941,225
Deaths 68,602
Recovered 178,594
The United States (US) currently has the highest number of Covid-19 cases, with close to a million more than any other country in the world. The US recorded its first case on 20 January 2020 and by the end of March, cases were recorded in all 50 U.S. states.
Spain total Covid-19 cases 247,122
Active 73,300
Deaths 25,264
Recovered 148,558
The first Covid-19 case in Spain was recorded on 31 January 2020. Spain took similar precautions to South Africa, with a two-week ban on non-essential work at the end of March. However on 2 April, 950 people died of the virus in a 24-hour period—at the time, the most by any country in a single day.
Spain now has recoveries which almost double the number of active cases.
Italy total Covid-19 cases 210,717
Active 100,179
Deaths 28,884
Recovered 81,654
Italy’s death toll from its Covid-19 epidemic surpassed China's on 20 March 2020, and the following day the Italian government closed all non-essential businesses and industries, and restricted movement of people.
While the country saw a sharp spike in the first few months of the outbreak, the country's curve has begun to flatten.
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