Honourable Health MEC, Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu
All officials present
Members of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen
We welcome you all to this media briefing, which is part of our ongoing efforts to keep the people of our Province informed regarding this invisible but dangerous enemy that is COVID-19.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.
Today being the Mother’s Day, it is fitting that we should start this briefing by wishing all our mothers, the bedrock of our society, a Happy Mother’s Day.
We know that this time, as we celebrate this day to pay tribute to our mothers for their contribution in society, things are different because of how COVID-19 has changed our lives. However, even in these difficult times, we ask our citizens to celebrate and salute our mothers everywhere. As we mark this day, we need to reflect on the contribution of our mothers, sisters and women in general who are the bulwark against this pandemic and are at the frontline of battling COVID-19 as healthcare workers and other essential service staff by selflessly manning the forward trenches of this war.
We know that this virus has not only created a health crisis of unprecedented scale throughout the globe, but it also has created a socio-economic challenge as evidenced by the damage it has done to the economy. Millions of jobs have been lost throughout the globe as a result of this virus and many of our mothers and sisters have had to make do with the little they have to take care of their families. Because of the unique position that our mothers, sisters and women in general occupy in our society, they are the ones who are carrying the heavy burden of this pandemic. On this day, we salute you and wish you strength to continue to be the pillar upon which our society is founded. Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers in Africa.
RESPONDING TO PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA DIRECTIVES
Earlier this week, we were deeply honoured to receive and host our Honourable President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa. The President had wanted to see for himself how far we have gone with preparations for a possible massive outbreak of COVID-19.
We were extremely humbled when the President gave us a pat on the back, saying that he was pleased with the progress that we have made; as well as about our overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related challenges.
However, this positive feedback from the President does not mean that we must be complacent, and rest on our laurels. Instead, it challenges us to double our efforts. It says that we must work even harder because in COVID-19, we are facing a truly formidable enemy that has infected more than 3 million people and claimed more than 275 000 lives worldwide.
The President was also pleased with our utilisation of the Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) structures to assist in the management of the COVID-19 disease. We will continue to use these structures as we have also realised that this approach does assist us in managing not only COVID -19 but other societal ills as well.
The President, while acknowledging the efforts, directed the province to increase its bed capacity as we are one of the largest provinces. Today we would like to give an update to this directive.
ONGOING EFFORTS TO INCREASE BED CAPACITY
The Province has re-organised and assigned, among the currently available beds, beds for quarantining of people under investigation (PUIs); and isolation beds for those who’ve been confirmed COVID-19 positive.
These beds will exist in at least three areas:
1. The existing Department of health institutions or hospitals.
2. Private hospitals
3. Temporary structures that have been, and continue to be, reconfigured to accept COVID-19 clients.
The Department of Health is renovating and reconfiguring existing clinical spaces in public health facilities. Most of these beds will be used for isolation and some for quarantining of clients.
As mentioned above, the private hospital groups are being engaged to also assist in the admission of the COVID-19 clients. While some private hospital groups have already offered assistance we are continuing to engage all others to ensure that there is enough bed capacity in the province. It is also establishing field hospitals in order to increase bed capacity and to meet isolation and quarantine safety requirements.
The Province is in the process of establishing more temporary beds in lodges, resorts and hotels for activation for use as quarantine facilities based on demand. Some of these beds will be erected within the premises of the existing hospitals and a few, like the Royal Show grounds beds, will be outside the hospital premises.
Currently, we have 2141 quarantine beds, 3430 isolation beds, 66 high care beds and 143 ICU beds. This gives us a minimum of 5780 beds and we are, in line with the President’s call, informed by the current and future need, increasing these numbers even more.
ENGAGEMENTS WITH KZN EZEMVELO:
We have also engaged with KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife regarding the roping in of their facilities to further increase capacity. These facilities can be made available within 48 hours on receipt of an official order. A number of other privately-owned facilities have been offered to the Department for activation, subject to access demand over and above the Department’s internal bed capacity.
DISTRICT BY DISTRICT BREAKDOWN OF COVID – 19 IN KZN
KZN accounts for 15% of total laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.
The total number of people diagnosed with the COVID-19, as of the 9th May 2020, stands at 1307.
A total of 608 have recovered, 656 are active and 43 have sadly passed away. May their souls rest in peace.
The median number of new patients reported in the Province is 19 cases/daily with eThekwini and ILembe Districts contributing the highest number of cases daily. There are 54 new cases that were reported in the Province just yesterday alone.
As of the 9th May 2020, the Province had a total of 135 hospitalised patients; 46 admitted in the private sector and 92 in the public sector. There were 13 patients that needed to be in intensive care unit.
The Province has a total of 43 deaths recorded in 5 of the 11 Districts – eThekwini District has recorded the highest death rate of 80% followed by King Cetshwayo District at 8% and UGu District at 5%.
Trends and analysis – What KZN has achieved during the lockdown
Key observation (is the curve flattening)
The community screening and testing, which we introduced when the President declared the lockdown has assisted us to identify more cases which we would miss if we only continued with the contact tracing only. We are happy we started this initiative.
We also ensured that when there are roadblocks healthcare workers participate to screen and if needs be test people during these exercises. This has also contributed in the education of people about many things, including the utilisation of masks.
While we aim for the flattening of the curve we await a proper analysis from the scientists on the progress along these lines. The concern we have is that our people still do not heed the call of social distancing and other precautions. We would like to encourage them to observe these protocols.
PPE AVAILABILITY STOCK
Informed by the current patient load we have adequate PPE in stock. We are however preparing for a worst-case scenario.
HUMAN RESOURCE PLAN
A Human Resource sourcing plan has also been drawn. The purpose of this plan is to ensure adequate numbers of staff during this pandemic. The Department of Health has identified categories of staff, including professional nurses, enrolled nurses, general orderlies and admin support staff to be sourced on a 6-month contract basis to assist with the management of patients during this pandemic.
The process of contracting these staff members will begin as soon as all the internal preparatory steps have been finalised.
ALTERNATIVE MEDICATION DELIVERY STRATEGIES
Patients who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease will be prioritized for the dispensing of medicines outside of the healthcare setting.
These include:
● People over 60 years of age
● People who have serious underlying medical conditions e.g. TB, HIV, Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension amongst others
● People who live in nursing homes or long term care facility.
UPDATE:
GEN. JUSTICE GIZENGA MPANZA REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Among the developments that we saw earlier this week was the closure of the Gen. Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital at KwaDukuza. This was after 16 people had tested positive in that hospital.
The hospital was declared a quarantine site and an instruction was issued that it should stop accepting new patients. Hospital management, guided by the head office managers, commenced an investigation and contact tracing.
Initially, 16 people tested positive for COVID-19. These were nine mothers, two babies, four doctors and one nurse. A total of 51 other healthcare workers (HCW) were traced as contacts and were tested. Of the 51 tested, 1 additional medical officer tested positive, leading to a total of 2 medical officers.
Twelve babies and 22 mothers were tested. Out of those, 8 babies, 9 boarder mothers, 7 doctors and 3 nurses tested positive.
While measures were being put in place to disinfect and decontaminate the hospital, more staff and patients were tested.
Those patients who needed a higher level of care were diverted to other hospitals in EThekwini, such as Addington, RK Khan, Mahatma Gandhi and King Edward VIII Hospital.
The decontamination of the hospital was immediately initiated and people who needed to be quarantined and isolated were treated accordingly. Meetings between the management and the organised labour continue to take place with the next meeting planned for the 10th, tomorrow.
Concrete decisions on this hospital will be communicated following these engagements and other activities that aim to ensure that the hospital is functional but more importantly is safe to accept people.
RE-OPENING OF ST AUGUSTINE’S AND KINGSWAY HOSPITALS
It will be remembered that due to challenges that were experienced at St Augustine and Kingsway hospitals these hospitals had to be temporarily closed. Since that closure the government through the department of health engaged the Netcare leaders, as the owners or representatives of the Netcare group which owns these hospitals.
The Executive Management of the Department of Health has considered the discussions and reports submitted by Netcare Limited, and a decision has been taken that St Augustine’s and Kingsway Hospitals may be reopened, subject to the following conditions:
● All regulations issued by the President of the Country are abided by;
● PPE is issued to all staff working at the institutions;
● A fever clinic is in place at both the institutions;
● COVID-19 training is conducted for all employees of the institutions;
● The IPC Guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO), National Department of Health and Provincial Department of Health are implemented and complied with;
● The Department will conduct unannounced inspections.
The Department appreciates the open discussions held in trying to resolve the challenges faced by Netcare Limited during COVID-19.
In terms of the deaths that have been experienced in the province, we note that most of these were of elderly people and of people with co-morbidities. We want to encourage the elderly people and the community members taking care of or living with the elderly people and people with chronic illnesses to take more care in implementing the safety precautions of social distancing, hand washing, sanitising and use of cloth masks.
We also ask the communities to avoid stigmatising people diagnosed with COVID-19, where they come to know them. Instead supporting to them is more important.
We again must thank our heroes and heroines, the frontline staff who on a daily basis continue to face the enemy head on. Your efforts cannot go unnoticed. Thank you very much.
SOCIAL RELIEF INTERVENTIONS
As of the 06th of May KwaZulu-Natal had received 100 302 SRD referrals. Of this a total of 48 893 cases were assessed leading to 34 077 food parcels being dispatched while 59 086 are outstanding and 9624 did not meet the criteria.
Following challenges experienced in the delivery of food parcels, the Provincial government has undertaken measures to improve the programme.
The electronic management system to monitor the distribution of SRD is in the process of being rolled out. KwaZulu-Natal has also strengthened communication and this had included the facilitation of radio slots outlining the SRD qualification criteria and application process has been facilitated.
We are aware that there is an increase in demand for social relief support and we will continue to respond within the available resources. We also welcome the support of our NGO’s and social partners and we still appeal for more support on food relief and other critical intervention which they must coordinate with government.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS
Between the 04th to the 07th of May 2020 a total of 26,170 law enforcement personnel were deployed to enforce the regulations. A total of 355 road blocks were held during which 40,088 vehicles stopped and 84,507 people searched or interviewed.
From the 04th to the 07th of May 1,125 cases were opened and during this time 1,182 arrests were made. During this time 450 admission of guilt fines were issued. As enforcement continued a total of 2744 liquor & business inspections were conducted, during which 155 uncompliant sites were identified.
We are observing that since the announcement of the lowering of the National Lockdown to Level 4, in places like the Durban CBD, Isiphingo and other, and in certain shopping malls, it’s as if the floodgates have been opened.
Some areas are bustling with activity, and the concept of social distancing has flown out of the window. We are seeing increased vehicle traffic, a large number of people on the streets, others even plaiting their hair on the sidewalks. Some people are venturing out of their homes without wearing masks. We are also aware of business operators who have re-opened prematurely, even though they are not exempted from Level 4 of the lockdown.
We are also in possession of a dossier that lists a number of private firms who are acting in contravention of the regulations of Level 4.
We want to warn these companies, along with all those individuals who are contravening the regulations of the lockdown, that from tomorrow (Monday) onwards, you will feel the heat.
Our law enforcement agencies, accompanied by the SA National Defence Force, will be out in full force, taking the necessary action against offenders. We want all our compatriots to be clear about one thing: we will take stringent action.
We will not be doing it to abuse or victimise people, but to uphold the law, so that COVID – 19 can be kept at bay.
So, from tomorrow we will intensify compliance and the Justice, Crime Prevention Cluster has been told to act decisively without fear, favour or prejudice. If you are out you must have a permit or stay at home. You have been warned: Kuze kungakhalwa uma seliqina ibhawodi.
Economic Recovery
The province has initiated the development of a holistic plan to kickstart the economic recovery process. Work streams have been established to analyse the potential sectoral impact of Covid 19 crisis and to identify Sectoral opportunities and interventions.
Engagements are being held with the captains of industry to directly collect valuable inputs from all sectors, experts, practitioners, academia, affected individuals and businesses. Findings from this exercise will find expression in the Economic Recovery Plan.
Business is supportive of the regulations but feels that there is a scope to allow more businesses to operate whilst adhering to health regulations.
We also want to appeal to business not to exert unnecessary pressure on government. We understand the challenges business is going through but there is a need to balance this with medical and scientific advice to prevent loss of lives.
COUNCILORS NOT ADHERING TO PROTOCOLS
We have noted with concern behaviour that borders on the violation of COVID-19 communication. We wish to remind all councillors that only the National Department of Health and the Minister can pronounce on new and confirmed statistics on COVID-19. We ask councillors to adhere to this protocol to avoid spreading fake news.
HIS MAJESTY’S MESSAGE
Yesterday in an online public address yesterday, Isilo Samabandla Onke, urged South Africans to stay at home, look after their own health, and respect the regulations of country's lockdown, which is now at Level 4.
The King’s call is a very important one when you consider some of the disturbing trends that we have observed in recent weeks. We are also extremely grateful to Isilo Samabandla, uBhejane Ephuma Esiqiwini, for always being prepared to lead from the front in protecting our citizens. We invite all to heed His Majesty’s message.
Once again Happy Mother’s Day to all – May God Bless you all.
