---
title: "South Africa records first neonatal coronavirus death, toll jumps to 339"
description: "JOHANNESBURG, May 20 (Reuters) - South Africa recorded its first neonatal coronavirus death on Wednesday, as the death toll jumped by 27 to 339, the health ministry said."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-20-south-africa-records-first-neonatal-coronavirus-death-toll-jumps-to-339/"
published: "2020-05-20T22:42:05"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 94
---

# South Africa records first neonatal coronavirus death, toll jumps to 339

> JOHANNESBURG, May 20 (Reuters) - South Africa recorded its first neonatal coronavirus death on Wednesday, as the death toll jumped by 27 to 339, the health ministry said.

By Reuters · Published 21 May 2020, 00:42 SAST

## Content

The two-day old baby was born prematurely and had lung difficulties which required ventilation support immediately after birth, Health minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement.

"The mother had tested positive for COVID-19 and the child subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 as well. It is important to appreciate the complexities of the underlying condition of prematurity," he said.

South Africa, which has the highest coronavirus infections in Africa, reported 803 new cases in a 24-hour cycle, taking the total to 18,003 while 8,950 people have recovered. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; editing by Grant McCool)