JOHANNESBURG - Health minister Zweli Mkhize has announced six new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the country, outside of the group of 10 people who returned from Italy.

The total number of cases recorded in South Africa is 13.

According to a statement released by the Health Department, four cases are in Gauteng, one is in KwaZulu-Natal and one in the Western Cape.

Gauteng patients

A 33-year-old woman who had travelled to Italy and returned on 1 March.

A couple -- a 34-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman -- who had travelled to Germany were also diagnosed. They returned to South Africa on 9 March.

A 57-year-old man who had travelled to Austria and Italy. He returned to South Africa on 9 March.

KwaZulu-Natal patient

In KZN, the infected person is a 40-year-old man who had travelled to Portugal. He returned on 7 March.

Western Cape patient

A 36-year-old male tested positive. He travelled to multiple countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. He returned to South Africa on 9 March.

All the patients have been advised.

Those who are symptomatic have started receiving treatment.

Some of the patients are already in the hospital while some, specifically those who are asymptomatic, are in self-quarantine.

Contact tracing has started for all these cases.

To date, 645 tests have been conducted.

- Coronavirus Hotline Number: 0800 029 999 from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday