St Augustine’s Hospital closed as more staff undergo testing

THE spread of infections at Netcare St Augustine started from two asymptomatic patients who were submitted for other medical reasons.

This is according to Dr Richard Friendland, Netcare Chief Executive Officer, who said they are doing an investigation into the matter.

ALSO READ: 66 test positive for virus at Durban hospital

In a statement, Friendland suggested asymptomatic patients slipped through their prevention measures.

“Unfortunately, with Covid-19 people can transmit the virus before they show the symptoms that can be screened for and where one person is contagious the virus can quickly spread to others,” he said. 

It is still unclear how many hospital-acquired infections there were at St Augustine.

According to the latest released data, four Covid-19 patients have died at the hospital, 48 health workers have tested positive for the virus and 15 pre-existing community acquired patients are in their Covid-19 isolation units.

Of the 48 staff, one has since tested negative for the virus while the rest are in self-quarantine.

ALSO READ: KZN Health calls for St Augustine’s Hospital patients to come forward

Questions have been raised over the hospital’s handling of the coronavirus with MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu saying there will be an investigation to determine if safety protocols for health workers may have been flouted.

“The investigation so far has indicated there might have been that challenge, that’s why we have decided we will continue to have an in-depth investigation into that challenge so we are able to understand what actually happened,” she said.

Simelane-Zulu said the department will consider their legal options after the competition of their investigation.

Friendland maintains that all their health workers were fitted with Personal Protective Equipment, including masks and gloves, at all times, St Augustine’s Hospital has been closed as it undergoes wide-scale decontamination.

ALSO READ: Durban hospital faces possible closure after 11 staff test positive for coronavirus

A total of 1 982 staff are also set to undergo screening and testings of the coronavirus with 504 already confirmed negative.

The hospital along with the KwaZulu-Natal department of Health are also tracing patients who have been admitted to the hospital since 1 March 2020.

If you have not been contacted, you can reach them on these 24-hour hotline numbers:

0800 111 266 – Netcare

031 268 5019 – KZN Dept of Health

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