THERE is a rise of Covid-19 infections among healthcare workers, including nurses and doctors at various public hospitals in Durban.
This was according to Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, who said the brunt of these infections have been recorded recently.
At least 38 staff members at Addington Hospital have tested positive for Covid-19, she said, this includes 5 doctors, 11 nursing staff, 1 allied worker, and 21 support staff members.
Walk-in patients are still being accepted at Addington but those who are picked up by ambulances are diverted to Prince Mshiyeni Memorial and King Edward VIII hospitals.
At RK Khan Hospital, the total number of staff who have tested positive is 23, which is made up of 7 Nurses, 10 doctors, 2 radiologists, 3 clerks and 1 general orderly.
ALSO READ: KZN Premier warns against holding super-spreader events
“It should be understood that healthcare workers and other staff who work within the health environment form part of the ecosystem of broader society. By virtue of this, they will not be immune to epidemiological changes and other realities within society,” said Simelane-Zulu.
“But beyond that, given the sensitivity of their work environment, and their higher occupational risk exposure, health workers carry an additional burden of responsibility to take care of themselves, and follow the necessary COVID – 19 precautions at all times.”
The MEC confirmed that KwaZulu-Natal is facing a resurgence or second wave of Covid-19 infections, which she blamed on people becoming “complacent.”
ALSO READ: ‘Let us live like we’re still on Level 5’ pleads KZN Health MEC
As of Sunday, KZN has reported 1613 new COVID – 19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 139 366.
There has been 4 new deaths in KZN, bringing the number of fatalities to 3457.
A total of 7 451 health care workers countrywide have been infected with COVID-19 in the public sector since the beginning of the pandemic.
ALSO READ: Covid-19: ‘We are ready for second wave’ – KZN Health MEC
Of the total infected, 91 (1%) have died.
“The number of admissions is increasing daily, but we are confident that we will be able to cope. We are ready, thanks to the staff that we recruited and extra bed capacity that has been prepared throughout the province,” said Simelane-Zulu.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
