(Photo: AFP)

Johannesburg (People’s Daily) -- Only 17 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in South Africa Saturday, a big drop in the number of newly confirmed infected people.

The total number of infections in South Africa is 1187，the South African Ministry of Health said in a statement.

The Minister of Health Zwelini Mkhize stated that these numbers do not indicate a reduction in the number of infections.

He said it is merely a reflection of positive results that were received, verified and ready for Saturday’s reporting.