SA health workers 'like soldiers who go to war'

Two medics in South Africa, a nurse and a doctor, have died after contracting conronavirus, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has said.

He added that overall 511 health workers have tested positive for the virus with 26 receiving treatment in hospital.

More than 7,500 people have tested positive for conronavirus in South Africa and 148 people have died, the government says.

All mine workers must be screened, and where necessary, must be screened. It is more helpful to be proactive. We can save staff and the whole mine if we screen miners. We encourage all mining companies to work with the provincial government on this.

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 6, 2020

He paid tribute to the country's medics comparing them to "soldiers who go to war".

We have seen the numbers increasing. We said that many of us will get the infection. Our role has been to slow down the rate at which the infection gets to us.

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 6, 2020

Dr Mkhize added that the role of the lockdown, which is gradually being lifted, was to help the health service prepare for future cases.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that a spike of infections is now expected