Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday said that he was worried about the 50 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in the Free State after attending a church conference at the Divine Restoration Ministries in Bloemfontein early this month, as the nationwide confirmed cases surged to 709.
Mkhize said was expecting an increase in new infections in the days ahead.
The church gathering in the Free State, which took place over four to five days,is becoming an epicentre for cases in that province.
Among those who had attended the service were ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe, ACDP MP Steve Swart and well-known pastor Angus Buchman.
Mkhize says the national lockdown announced by President Ramaphosa on Monday will address internal transmission among communities, especially over the Easter period when there are large movements of people. “It’s the mixing of people we want to limit,” he said.
Meanwhile, Netcare has suspended and restricted all visiting hours in light of the severity of COVID-19 pandemic.
Netcare hospitals have been suspended, except in specific special circumstances, as a further precaution against the spread of COVID-19, Netcare announced.
“In light of the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, we needed to take extraordinary measures to protect all healthcare teams and our patients who cannot be discharged,” said Dr Richard Friedland, Netcare chief executive officer.
1. All visiting hours for general wards, ICUs and the high care units will be suspended with immediate effect.
2. The only exceptions are as follows:
§ Nurseries and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs): only ONE parent at a time is allowed to visit newborns in a nursery or NICU. This is on condition that the parent visiting has had no COVID-19 exposure and accepts that very strict infection prevention controls will be put in place to minimise the risks to their baby and other babies being cared for in these facilities. No grandparents and siblings will be allowed to visit.
§ Paediatrics: Only ONE parent at a time is permitted to live in with an admitted child. This parent is required to have had no COVID-19 exposure and accepts that very strict infection prevention controls will be put in place to minimise the risks to their child and other children being cared for in our paediatric facilities. No grandparents and siblings will be allowed to visit.
§ Gravely ill patients: an exception can be granted by the hospital general manager, as authorised by the regional director, in these instances. A minimal number of visitors will be granted this exception and they will be required to wear a mask.
“We thank families and friends of patients for their co-operation with regard to these measures in this unprecedented time and for their contribution to ensuring that we keep our most vulnerable loved ones safe,” Friedland said.
