South Africans urged to prepare for "heavy storm" amid ballooning COVID-19 caseload

South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Thursday urged South Africans to prepare for "a heavy storm" as COVID-19 cases continued to rise.

The minister made the appeal as the COVID-19 death toll in the country hit 1,737, up 63 from Wednesday.

A total of 3,488 cases have been reported over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide count to 83,890, according to local health authorities.

Mkhize warned that the country is approaching "a heavy storm" in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic with the further easing of restrictions.

On Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the reopening of restaurants, beauty salons, cinemas, casinos and non-contact sports, sparking concern about growing infections.

Mkhize said the decision to ease restrictions were intended to balance saving the economy and lives.

"We cannot have the whole country go on a restriction while people go hungry," he said.

Before the lockdown, cases were doubling every two days and now cases were doubling every 12 days and, in some areas, every nine days, according to Mkhize.

The minister stressed the importance of balancing behavioral changes to decrease the spread of the coronavirus.

Behavioral changes, which include constant hand washing, wearing masks and keeping social distance, were now key to decreasing the spread of the virus, Mkhize said.

"Now people need to understand that our lives depend on it," he said.