Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says the new infections came from more than 40 000 tests, at a positivity rate of 8.72%. The government has previously flagged the 10% and 12% positivity rates as cause for concern. Mkhize also reported there were 167 new Covid-19 related deaths, as provinces “are back to capturing data as far back as December 2020, as part of their Covid-19 mortality audits”. The death toll now stands at 55 507.