South Africa’s health minister has said the country needs to fast-track coronavirus testing to prevent its spread in the country.

Zweli Mkhize said so far 47,541 tests had been conducted but more needed to be done to get a “true picture” of the pandemic.

He warned that "unless we move fast, we will soon be swarmed".

The country has confirmed 1,462 cases of the virus to date and is on a 21-day lockdown.

The minister said on Thursday that with the flu season about to start in May, many patients were likely to flood health centres, creating a ground for coronavirus to spread.

He said time was running out and the country could be experiencing a “calm before a heavy and devastating storm”.

Dr. Mkhize said the current strategy for testing was “reactive and restrictive” - only focusing on people with symptoms. He said they will now shift focus to people with mild symptoms in overcrowded neighbourhoods.

The ministry has deployed 67 mobile testing vans across the country to conduct tests.

Dr. Mkhize said health workers will now start looking for patients instead of waiting for them to come to hospitals so as to get a true picture of the spread.