Another 513 people have died of illnesses linked to contracting Covid-19, the Department of Health said on Tuesday.

A further 14 410 new cases were also reported on the eve of a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council.

The Western Cape saw a heavy death toll, with 202 people reported to have died in the latest bulletin by health minister Zweli Mkhize.

In the Eastern Cape, 124 people died, while 14 died in the Free State , 64 in Gauteng, 92 in KwaZulu-Natal 92, three in Limpopo and 14 in the Northern Cape.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Western Cape health department head Keith Cloete said although the crisis in the Garden Route was showing signs of abating, the province as a whole was expected to start entering its peak from 7 January.

He added it was already using an unprecedented quantity of oxygen and had asked Afrox to bring in extra supplies.

As a result of virus, 30 524 people have died countrywide, while many in the world await the widespread distribution of a vaccine that may lead to an end to the devastation it has caused.

According to Tuesday's report, the rate of positive Covid-19 tests dropped to 30% in from the 33.7% reported on Monday.

South Africa has 1 127 759 confirmed cases. Of those, 920 879 people have recovered - an 81.6% recovery rate.