Limpopo records 1st Covid-19 death
The man, whose wife also tested positive, was a patient at the Netcare Phološo Hospital in the city.
POLOKWANE – A 69-year-old man was the first person to succumb to Covid-19 in Limpopo. The man, whose wife also tested positive, was a patient at the Netcare Phološo Hospital in the city. Action taken by the hospital resulted in one staff member subsequently testing positive.
A further 11 staff members, as agreed with the Department of Health, were placed in self-isolation. They are all asymptomatic. Ten of these staff members are quarantined at a hotel in Polokwane at the expense of Netcare as they are unable to effectively self-quarantine at home. One opted to self-isolate at home.
Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba explained earlier on Friday that the deceased was admitted to the hospital on 7 April for diabetes-related problems. As has become routine, he was tested for Covid-19.
The hospital found him to be at risk upon admission and immediately isolated him.
The man’s first test proved to be negative, but on doctor’s recommendation, his exposure was minimised by keeping him in isolation.
X-rays showed signs of him being infected with the virus and a second test was conducted. This showed him to be positive, but the results were only received after the man died.
Ramathuba said virologists are trying to understand the false-negative results, as the patient presented with symptoms and the X-rays showed his lungs to be infected.
“Netcare Pholoso Hospital responded swiftly to implement a range of additional, precautionary preventative measures to safeguard patients, healthcare professionals, workers and administrative staff across every discipline to ensure that they remained safe and fully protected,” says Erich Bock, Regional Director: Netcare Hospitals.
He said the hospital had thus far tested 564 people, including staff, doctors and allied healthcare practitioners, which is more than 90% of the target group, and testing remains ongoing at the hospital.
He said the hospital has been deep-cleaned and completely disinfected. As an additional precaution, terminal cleaning using a high dosage of chlorine, followed by disinfection with the aid of ultraviolet disinfection robots was carried out.
The hospital also secured ample stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) which has been distributed to staff members, doctors and contract service providers at the hospital in accordance with the Netcare PPE policy.
The hospital also re-trained over 440 healthcare workers, other staff members and doctors on the appropriate and correct use of PPE, hand hygiene and social distancing and compliance in this regard is being closely monitored.
Netcare is working in close collaboration with the Limpopo Department of Health with all relevant information being proactively shared in the interest of the community, patients, staff members, doctors and the wider healthcare sector.
A total of 37 patients required Covid-19 testing at the hospital. Of these, 30 patients tested negative while one tested positive. The results for the remaining six patients in isolation are awaited. An additional 20 patients were placed in precautionary quarantine to reduce the risk of exposure, noted Bock.
Dr Anchen Laubscher, Group Medical Director of Netcare said that two of the greatest challenges associated with Covid-19 are that those infected do not always show or have any of the symptoms, and the fact that the virus is highly infectious, notwithstanding the absence of any symptoms.
“Even in the presence of extensive and effective infection prevention measures, such as those in place within Netcare hospitals, any workplace or gathering of people poses a potential risk for infection. Unfortunately, it has been shown that Covid-19 can be transmitted by carriers before they show symptoms that can be screened for, and where one person is contagious, the virus can very quickly spread to others.”
Netcare took the decision a number of weeks ago to suspend visiting and public entry to its hospitals except in specific exceptional circumstances, and all persons entering are screened and, where indicated, testing is then done.
“We wish to acknowledge the Health Department under the stewardship of Dr Phophi Ramathuba, MEC for Health, for their support and leadership during this difficult time. A special word of thanks goes to Dr Ramathuba and her team for their exceptional dedication and efforts in rendering assistance to Netcare Pholoso Hospital during this period. Our deep and heartfelt thanks go to all our healthcare workers, nurses and doctors and their families and loved ones for their incredible efforts under these very trying and challenging circumstances. We salute their efforts and remain deeply grateful to them all,” Bock commented.
* 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).
