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Health professionals say empty trauma units at many facilities mean they can now focus on the pandemic.
Africa’s largest hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath in Soweto, posted images on his Facebook page on January 1, 2021 of a nearly empty trauma unit. Image: Facebook.
JOHANNESBURG / CAPE TOWN – While many South Africans are angered by the latest alcohol ban, health professionals say empty trauma units at many facilities mean they can now focus on the pandemic.
On December 28, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the sale of alcohol in retail establishments and the consumption of alcohol on-site in restaurants would not be allowed under the adjusted alert level 3 regulations.
For the first time in history, Africa’s largest hospital, the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg, did not admit a single patient to its trauma and rescue unit on New Year’s Day.
Management has thanked President Cyril Ramaphosa for enforcing Level 3 lockdown regulations in the county.
The professional nurse Busi Ramafoko asked everyone to adhere to the rules.
“Above all, wear your mask correctly. It will protect you. Because an injury is an accident, you will come to our unit. Before they send you anywhere for further management, we have to verify your COVID status. And trust me, people are testing positive. “
LOOK: Nurse Busi Ramafoko also expressed relief at the situation in #Onlytrauma unit and thanked the president for implementing the lockdown. pic.twitter.com/PgaUqbJ6sZ
– EWN reporter (@ewnreporter) January 1, 2021
In the Western Cape, the Health Department said it also saw a massive drop in trauma emergencies in Cape Town’s public hospitals and rural districts this New Year’s Eve.
He said he noticed a significant spike in trauma admissions this week, on December 16, which was a holiday, and on Christmas weekend.
A total of 312 trauma patients were treated on Boxing Day; the daily average is 147.
The department’s Marika Champion said that while many emergency centers were dealing with COVID-19 cases on New Year’s Eve, trauma cases were down and most facilities reported Friday that it was much quieter than usual.
“We are still colliding numbers, but reports indicate a significant drop in trauma cases. These include car accidents and cases of violent trauma that often accompany holidays. Trauma cases are often time-consuming and labor-intensive. This reduction helped us cope with the large number of COVID cases in our hospitals, ”said Champion.
Police Minister Bheki Cele has said Eyewitness news has been inundated with messages of appreciation from doctors thanking the men and women in blue for a historic New Year’s Eve, with minimal cases of trauma.
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