SA government prepares to close temporary field hospitals as Covid-19 cases decrease
With numbers decreasing in KwaZulu-Natal, Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu said government has started the process of winding down some of its temporary field hospitals.
THE MEC for Health, Nomugugu Simelane-Zulu said the department has started winding down some of its temporary field hospitals.
“We signed contracts with the majority of centres that are hosting us and contracts are diverse, not standard. So there will be a level of contractual obligation that we are going to have to adhere to,” she said.
Simelane-Zulu said they have started the process of engaging with the necessary property owners to see how they can end the contract.
She said some of the facilities are becoming too expensive for government to maintain.
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This comes on the back of cases decreasing in the province, said Simelane-Zulu.
The Durban Exhibition Centre was identified as one of the field hospitals in Durban.
“We have been warned by scientists that there might be a second wave. So while we have these facilities, we are also bearing in mind that should there be a second wave what will we do. That’s why we are not going to be shutting down all the temporary structures that we are utilising,” said Simelane-Zulu.
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Sihle Zikalala, KZN Premier, confirmed the downward trend of Covid-19 active cases.
He said there are currently 1 449 patients admitted in public and private hospitals for Covid-19.
“Even though the number of cases seems to be down, we are still very concerned about the number of patients who are not presenting themselves early to health care facilities. We appeal to all our people to know that Covid-19 is not a death sentence. The highest number of recoveries confirms that with early detection lives can be saved,” he said.
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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.
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