First SA deaths: Both under 50-years-old

As South Africa is still coming to grips with the first two deaths linked to the COVID-19 virus, it was revealed that both victims were from the Western Cape, female and under 50-years-old.

Alan Winde, the Premier for the Western Cape, told 702 Talk Radio that the news has come as a huge shock for the province.

“We are told that we have to protect the elderly, but this is a shock as the first deaths are people who should have been the least at risk,” Winde said.

He added that it shows the true severity of the situation, and that people should be taking the lockdown seriously.

“It’s a sad day for the province. It’s really a tough day,” he explained.

Winde added that the laboratories in the province is currently fighting a backlog of about 5 000 COVID-19 tests.

“Its very simple to say that everybody should get tested. That doesn’t make sense, and people should be staying home. If people think that they have symptoms, they have to call the hotline,” he concluded.