Cape Town, Jun 5 (IANS): South Africa has recorded 3,267 COVID-19 cases since Wednesday, the highest daily surge since the disease break out in early March.

The new infections took the nationwide tally to 40,792, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in his daily update on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Meanwhile, the country reported 56 more deaths related with COVID-19 since Wednesday, also the highest daily record, the minister said.

"This brings the total national deaths to 848," Mkhize said.

Of the new deaths, 54 were in Western Cape Province.

A total of 21,311 recoveries has so far been reported, translating to a recovery rate of 52.24 per cent, he said.

A total of 820,675 tests have been processed to date, with 34,696 tests being conducted since the last report on Wednesday, Mkhize said.

Western Cape Province remains the epicentre of the epidemic in the country, with 27,006 cases and 651 deaths.

Also on Thursday, the government said it remained concerned about the intensity and increase of COVID-19 infections in Western Cape Province.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the province on Friday to inspect the situation and assess the province's readiness for continued management of the pandemic, government spokesperson Phumla Williams said.