Separate wards for quarantine and isolation – Health Department
The Limpopo Department of Health says they are moving to phase two in the prevention of the Corona virus.
LIMPOPO – This will be done by turning wards at various hospitals across the province into isolation wards. Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba explained at a media briefing on Monday that phase one was the acquisition of four ICU beds at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital, as laid out in guidelines by the World Health Organisation on pandemics.
“In phase two we add more beds to the ICU ward. We have identified another ward with 38 beds for patients with mild to moderate symptoms, who do not require supportive ventilation. We also have 10 beds that are allocated for children.”
Ramathuba says the various hospitals are being trained and prepared on how to deal with the virus.
“There are people who might not be able to be quarantined, especially in our informal settlements. The department is working to ensure that we will be ready for these people should there be a need for it.”
Ramathuba added that the issue of COVID-19 is a reality that all South Africans must live with and that the next two months will be a difficult time for the country. Ramathuba detailed that there will be separate wards for quarantine and isolation.
“Quarantine is for the patients who do not have symptoms and isolation will be for the serious cases. These two sections will be divided and we are working to ensure that the facilities are upgraded to be able to handle this.”
She added the the department was at that moment, working to upgrade a 33-bed ward at a hospital in Modimolle.
