South Africa now has 274 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the health department said in a statement issued on Sunday night.

This means there has been an increase of 34 from Saturday’s announcement.

Gauteng is now standing on 132 cases, followed by the Western Cape with 88, KZN with 36, Free State with 9, Mpumalanga with 6, Eastern Cape with 2 and Limpopo with 1 case.The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) noted that of the 274 cases, 208 (76%) have a history of travel from an area where Covid-19 is circulating.

The majority of those without international travel history have had recent contact with persons who have travelled internationally.

Stay up to date with the latest news, views and analysis as the number of coronavirus cases in SA increases.

Stay abreast of News24’s rolling coverage on the Covid-19 outbreak on A French doctor caring for coronavirus patients has died of the illness, authorities said Sunday, the first such death in the country that is grappling with the mushrooming outbreak.

The 67-year-old emergency room medic worked at Compiegne hospital, north of Paris, the town’s mayor told AFP.

Mayor Philippe Marini said that he was “someone who came back to work voluntarily to treat people and knew he was taking a risk.”

The doctor was named as Madagascar-born Jean-Jacques Razafindranazy by France 3 television, who said his wife, a family doctor, was also sick with the virus and has been quarantined at home.

His son posted an emotional message on Facebook, describing Razafindranazy as “my father the hero”, according to France 3.

“He was passionate about his work and chose not to retire. He has a left a family behind him who will never forget him,” he added.

The son thanked those who cared for his father in his final days in hospital in the northern city of Lille, and warned that “this illness is extremely serious and must not be taken lightly”.