Latest South African Covid-19 Update and Inside the WC’s First Field Hospital

Two more elderly people have sadly passed away in KwaZulu-Natal, where South Africa’s coronavirus mortality is at its highest, according to a Covid-19 update by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.

The Minister said a gentleman aged 80 passed away on 1 April, and an 81-year-old female on 2 April.

“Both didn’t have a history of travelling anywhere,” he said. “Both were admitted into hospital in Durban.”

Speaking at Khayelitsha Hospital on Friday, the Minister announced the following statistics:

Latest South African Coronavirus Stats include:

• 50,219 tests so far
• 1,505 people have tested positive
• It is an increase of 43 since Thursday
• 7 people have died, and two more are waiting to be confirmed
• No more than 10 people in ICU currently (although this changes daily)
• Recorded recoveries are 45 (The Minister says cases have to be kept in the system for 14 days before being confirmed as recoveries.)
• Hospital admissions have not been very high (and there are still hospital beds) as a large number of patients are being treated as out-patients

The Minister said even though a relatively low number have tested positive, all the tests are worth the effort “even if we test millions… because the devastation of undetected cases would be far worse.”

He said we have seen the tragic cases in other countries and South Africa would not like to see the same happen to its people, no matter “how much money we spent on fighting Covid-19”. With close to a million in the world infected, “we would like to reduce the impact on our own people” and “try approaches that others may not have tried” so “South Africans can look back one day and see what we learnt, and share it with the world”.

Dr Mkhize highlighted the significance of geo-mapping, to track a patient’s contacts by association and to identify the ‘hotspots’ in the country where more testing, health workers and hospital beds are required.

The Minister said the team has been discussing the rollout of testing, and has identified areas of priority. “We are ready to give additional support and re-enforcement to the areas that need assistance.”

He said that while the first few cases were ‘imported’ (travellers returning or coming to SA), there’s an increasing number becoming infected, like in the Western Cape, with no history of travelling and there is an indication of spread starting in townships and more dense areas.

Dr Mkhize revealed that before the press conference a group of South African officials, WHO experts and Chinese experts, particularly from Shanghai, had held a video conference that was extremely useful.

“They took us through the case definition, how they dealt with the testing and manifestation of the virus in patients. They also went into detail on in-patient treatment.”

The Chinese indicated that 20% of their patients become serious and of that 5% were admitted to ICU. They also emphasised the importance of testing and screening at an early stage.

“We had an opportunity to ask fairly pertinent questions, for example, there are differences between us and them (we have a number of citizens with TB and HIV).

“We have approached the President to request reinforcement from a number of countries such as Cuba and China.”

The Minister also revealed that South Africa has asked countries like India and Germany to assist if possible with protective gear.

The Minister praised the enthusiasm and preparedness of the health workers in South Africa, saying the country is in good hands.

“We are on a good course. The key however is how we make sure the lockdown works. We need to flatten the curve and ensure that when flu season starts we need to be ready before that time comes,” the Minister warned.

Dr Mkhize conveyed Government’s condolences to the families and friends of the latest two deceased; and thanked the health workers who are working tirelessly every day to try save South Africans’ lives.

WATCH VIDEO: Inside the Western Cape’s First ‘Field Hospital’

The first emergency “field hospital” in the Western Cape has been inspected by provincial Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo – in preparation for any “surge” of cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus.