No Covid-19-related deaths were reported in the last 24 to 48 hours in South Africa.

And, as of Tuesday, the country recorded 1 436 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 686 556, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said in a statement. This increase represents a 5.5% positivity rate.

Most new cases were recorded in Gauteng, which accounted for 35% of new infections, followed by the Western Cape with 23%. KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 18%; the Eastern Cape for 6%; the North West 5%; Mpumalanga and the Free Sate accounted for 4% each; Limpopo accounted for 3%; and the Northern Cape 2%.

Gauteng recorded 505 new cases on Tuesday, the Western Cape 334 and KwaZulu-Natal 257.

Sixteen new Covid-19 deaths were recorded, of which 0 occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours, the NICD added.

"Due to the ongoing audit exercise by the National Department of Health (NDoH), there may be a backlog of Covid-19 mortality cases reported," the NICD said in the statement.

A total of 23 285 855 Covid-19 tests have been conducted in the public and private sectors.

There has been an increase of 46 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.