South Africans cue in a supermarket to stock for food and supplies in Johannesburg, on March 16, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

Johannesburg (People‘s Daily) – The South African Ministry of Health announced Tuesday that South Africa now has 85 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 

This means there has been an increase of 23 since Monday’s announcement. 

Among them, 14 are in Gauteng, 4 in Kwazulu-natal and 5 in the Western Cape. It is notable that there are 8 cases of local transmission. 

Dr Zwelini Mkhize, Minister of Health, told the public that although the epidemic situation is not good, “it gives us great pleasure to also announce to South Africans that all the citizens from Wuhan were tested and their results came back negative for COVID-19. 

“We will continue to keep them in quarantine for the prescribed period and will thereafter initiate the process of reunifying them with the community,” he said.