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- Adjusted lockdown regulations have been credited for reducing trauma admissions in public health facilities.
- There were fewer traffic accidents compared to last year, and the Free State reported more Covid-19-related income than hospital ward injuries.
- Health workers at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital said the empty trauma unit released them to care for Covid-19 patients.
Health officials have attributed the strict ban on curfew and the sale of alcohol a significant reduction in trauma patients during the New Year’s holiday period.
Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu said there were no traffic accident deaths in the new year compared to last year.
“It was a calm and peaceful New Years Eve and New Years Day. Usually we are on the province’s five key national highways connecting the six surrounding provinces and Lesotho.
“As a province in the center of the country, we are usually busier these days and often experience fatal accidents, but this time it was different,” added Tsiu.
There were 14 car accidents with no fatalities on December 31, 2020, compared to 19 accidents with three deaths on January 1, 2019.
On New Year’s Day, there were nine accidents with no deaths, while there were nine accidents and no deaths on the same day last year.
Tsiu said the province saw an increase in the admission of patients suffering from Covid-19-related illnesses.
At the country’s largest hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath in Soweto, healthcare workers praised the Level 3 closure regulations. There were no trauma patients in Baragwanath on New Year’s Eve for the first time.
The nurses said 2021 was different from previous years, adding that the empty trauma unit saw staff released to care for Covid-19 patients.
“I would say that New Years Day 2021 is different from previous years when it comes to patient admissions and injuries. I would really like to thank the president for the tight shutdown as that eased the tension on us. Now we can focus on the pandemic as a nation.
“I urge all South Africans to adhere to Covid-19 regulations: disinfect, practice social distancing and wash hands,” said trauma unit nurse Busiswa Ramafoko.
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In Mpumalanga, Health MEC Sasekani Manzini said there were few trauma-related cases, leaving healthcare workers with fewer patients to see on New Year’s Eve.
There were seven cases of assault and injuries from two car accidents at the busy Witbank Hospital. Mapulane and Tintswalo hospitals had no trauma patients.
“The hospitals were manageable compared to previous years. We want to thank our people for complying with the closure regulations and wish them a happy new year,” Manzini added.
Western Cape Health Spokesperson Nomawethu Sbukwana said information on the province’s emergency and trauma admissions will only be available on Monday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced adjusted Level 3 lockdown regulations last week in a bid to curb the rise in infections during the holiday season. Alcohol sales and gatherings were banned in parks and beaches, and police threatened to arrest anyone who broke the lockdown rules.
