The Western Cape has an 18 000-test backlog for Covid-19, said Premier Alan Winde on Monday.

"We once again call on both the President and Minister [Zweli] Mkhize to move as quickly as possible to ensure that the [National Health Laboratory Service] is provided with the resources it so urgently requires and that testing across the country can continue unhindered," said Winde in a statement.

He has already raised the issue with Mkhize, and understands that the problem is a worldwide shortage of reagents and test kits, the increased testing in all of the provinces, and the release of their results by the National Health Laboratory Services.

A total of 124 079 tests had been completed in the Western Cape - a 400% increase in the number of tests conducted in the province since 25 April, Winde's statement said.

The province had 14 978 confirmed cases of Covid-19, according to Monday's statement.