Dr Zweli Mkhize: COVID-19 Update
As of yesterday, 4 April 2020, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 1585. This is an increase of 80 from the previously reported cases.
The provincial breakdown is as follows:
GAUTENG 693
WESTERN CAPE 433
KWAZULU – NATAL 232
FREE STATE 85
NORTH WEST 11
MPUMALANGA 18
LIMPOPO 18
EASTERN CAPE 25
NORTHERN CAPE 7
UNALLOCATED 63
The total number of COVID-19 tests conducted to date is 53 937.
NO. PROVINCE SEX AGE
1 WESTERN CAPE FEMALE 48
2 FREE STATE MALE 85
3 GAUTENG MALE 79
4 KWAZULU-NATAL FEMALE 46
5 KWAZULU-NATAL MALE 74
6 KWAZULU-NATAL FEMALE 63
7 KWAZULU-NATAL FEMALE 81
8 KWAZULU-NATAL FEMALE 80
9 KWAZULU-NATAL MALE 80
POSITIVE CASES FROM NETCARE ST AUGUSTINE’S HOSPITAL – DURBAN, KZN
We have received a report from KZN Health MEC, Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu that KwaZulu-Natal has 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to St Augustine’s Hospital, in Durban. Furthermore, 3 of the deceased patients from KZN had been admitted at the hospital.
The COVID-19 positive cases include patients, health workers and other staff members. The KZN Department of Health and Netcare management agreed that the affected sections of the hospital be closed and no new patient admissions be permitted. This is a precautionary measure to allow for a thorough identification of areas within the hospital where there may have been infection control lapses.
The areas that were exposed to positive patients are also being disinfected. At this stage, more than 150 tests have been conducted within the hospital and contact tracing is underway. We have advised that more tests be done on both staff and patients in order to determine the true extent of the existence of the infection in the facility, which may call for further interventions.
As part of intensifying the contact tracing and testing process, MEC Simelane-Zulu has also requested that Netcare avails a list of its patients that were exposed to the hospital as from the beginning of March.
We support this call and therefore make a public announcement that if you were a patient at St Augustine’s Hospital from 1 March 2020 to date, we request that you contact the KZN Department of Health.
We convey our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. We also thank the doctors, health workers and all staff members of this hospital for their commitment to serve even during these difficult times.
Dr Zwelini Mkhize
Minister of Health
REPORTING OF CONFIRMED DEATHS
South Africa now has a total of 9 confirmed deaths associated with COVID-19.
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