Own Correspondent|The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa has increased by 34 on Sunday to a total of 274, health minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed.

A week into the declaration of a national state of disaster, President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s very existence as a nation is being put to the test.

“The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread at a relentless pace across the globe. As nations of the world we find ourselves in the same fight: to contain the virus, to protect the lives of our people, and to fortify our economies against the inevitable disruption to manufacturing, productivity, growth and employment,” Ramaphosa said.

He applauded South Africans for taking charge of their own health and those around them, saying it has been heartening.

Meanwhile. Ramaphosa will address the nation on the coronavirus pandemic on Monday following Sunday’s meeting of the National Command Council.

Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu said a meeting of the National Command Council was still ongoing late on Sunday.

The council was deliberating an update on the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak; progress and challenges related to implementation of the recently promulgated regulations on the state of disaster and other measures to protect the country, as well as economic impact.

The council also discussed whether the measures that are currently in place to contain the spread of the virus are sufficient and what further measures are required.

“There are very weighty matters before the National Command Council, amongst others the socio-economic impact on our people of this coronavirus and how to mitigate that impact. But also the impact of this virus on the poor, the vulnerable and workers… Its not an easy matter, Mthembu said.