[ad_1]
By Thami Magubane 
4h ago
KwaZulu-Natal Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala and MEC Health Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu briefed the public on Covid-19 cases in the province and the recovery measures at a press conference on Sunday.
The hospital was the center of attention last week after 16 people initially tested positive.
Zikalala said the hospital was declared a quarantine site, adding that an instruction was issued that it should stop accepting new patients.
“Initially, 16 people tested positive for Covid-19. There were nine mothers, two babies, four doctors, and a nurse. A total of 51 other health workers were tracked as contacts and evaluated.
“Of the 51 evaluated, an additional medical officer tested positive, giving a total of two medical officers. Twelve babies and 22 mothers were evaluated. Of these, eight babies, nine guest mothers, seven doctors and three nurses tested positive. “
He said steps were being taken to disinfect and decontaminate the hospital.
He said that specific decisions about the hospital would be communicated after commitments and other activities, with the aim of ensuring that the hospital was functional but, more importantly, that it was safe to admit patients.
Zikalala also addressed the issue of social aid.
He said that, as of May 6, the provincial government had received 100,302 requests from people requesting social relief assistance.
Of this, 48 893 cases were evaluated, which led to sending 34 077 food packages, while 59 086 are pending and 9 624 did not meet the criteria.
He said an electronic management system would be used to monitor the distribution of food packages, which are in the process of being implemented.
“We are aware that there is an increase in the demand for social aid and we will continue to respond within the available resources,” he said.
Zikalala also warned that law enforcement agencies would be in effect as of today, to enforce the national blocking regulations that are being circumvented.
EThekwini and uMgungundlovu residents have been singled out for violating the regulations.
The worst news for uMgungundlovu is that the number of infections has doubled in recent weeks, from 30 to 60.
Zikalala said that between May 4 and 7, 26,170 police officers were deployed to enforce the regulations. A total of 355 roadblocks were carried out, during which 40,088 vehicles were stopped and 84,507 people were sought or interviewed.
In the same period, 1,125 cases were opened and 1,182 arrests were made. About 450 guilty fine admissions were issued. A total of 2,744 commercial liquor inspections were conducted, during which 155 non-compliant sites were identified.
“We observe that since the announcement of the reduction of the national closure to level four, in places like the Durban CBD, Isipingo and others, and in certain shopping centers, it is as if the floodgates have been opened,” he said.
“We are also in possession of a record that lists a number of private companies acting in contravention of level four regulations.
“Our law enforcement agencies, accompanied by the SA National Defense Force, will be in full force, taking the necessary measures against criminals.
“We want all of our compatriots to be clear about one thing: We will take strict measures,” he said.
Simelane-Zulu said uMgungundlovu was becoming a Covid-19 access point, due to the steady increase in the number of cases and non-compliance with regulations. “If you go to the well-known, well-known streets of Pietermaritzburg, people are outside, it’s like Christmas.”
She said that in some cases, they had noticed that people were reusing masks that were supposed to be discarded after one use.
Others have found a business opportunity, standing outside stores and renting a mask to various buyers, increasing the risk of spreading the virus.
The Mercury
[ad_2]
