The number of COVID-19 cases in South Africa is steadily increasing. The reports and daily updates we receive from the National Department of Health and from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) reflect the daily numbers of new cases, of deaths, and the number of recoveries. It is the latter category that is more ominous than the label implies. What does it mean when "recoveries" are reported? Those cases that have not demised as a direct result of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and whom have surpassed the number of days to be considered free from SARS-CoV-2 infection, are listed as having recovered from COVID-19.