Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has said that it is safe for mothers with coronavirus to breastfeed.
This is in response to a number of questions the minister has received. He said that mothers should practise respiratory hygiene and wear a mask. They should wash their hands before and after touching the baby and routinely clean surfaces.
If a woman feels too unwell to breastfeed, she can express milk, relactate or use donor human milk. He said that there is no fixed time interval to wait after a confirmed or suspected Covid-19 infection.
There have been many questions about whether it is safe to breastfeed if you have contracted #COVID-19. This is what you need to know. pic.twitter.com/x1A7wArLmg
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 30, 2020
Pregnant? This is how to protect yourself from #COVID19. Remember, all women have the right to a safe and positive childbirth experience, whether or not they have #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/dHfvc9DCv3
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 30, 2020
Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).