INTRODUCTION

Thank you very much to members of the media for heeding our invitation to this media briefing, and for continuing to be the eyes and ears of the public, especially when the going gets tough regarding COVID – 19 and other important matters.

We have no doubt that when the history books are written, the immense contribution of the media in the eventual defeat of this deadly pandemic, will be high up there among the names of many of our heroes and heroines.

UPDATE ON THE REBUILDING AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAMME

We commence our briefing today with an update on the efforts to rebuild, reconstruct and recover economically.  Our economy has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent riots have added to the downside risks, and compounded our prospects for economic recovery. And as such, investor confidence has been severely affected. This has had a dire effect on jobs and the economy at large.

We have since put in place a number of strategies as part of our recovery process. During the past week, we had a series of strategic engagements in Gauteng with international diplomats representing 40 countries. All of them have committed to retain investment in the province, and even pledged new investment in the future.

This is a welcome boost for KZN, and an overwhelming vote of confidence in the economic fundamentals which define the province as a conducive and preferred investment destination.

We have intensified our rebuilding efforts in KwaZulu-Natal through strengthening social cohesion, advancing peace, and promoting moral regeneration.

We are working with the religious leaders, traditional leaders, civil society organisations and the business community to address the root causes of the recent unrest and violence.

The pillars of our provincial economic recovery in the aftermath of both COVID-19 and the civil unrest include the following:
Restoration of Law and order;
Achieving stability and peace;
Providing a climate that is conducive for rebuilding and investment;
Devising strategies to detect and deter future unrests so that we are suitably prepared; and
A co-ordinated approach that seeks to ensure that the economy can bounce back. 

COVID – 19 SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

Turning to the COVID – 19 pandemic, it is with a deep sense of concern that we confirm that, as a province, we have been reliably advised by medical experts that we are now well and truly in the third wave of COVID - 19.

The province has for the past three consecutive days, recorded more than 3000 new cases, and is reporting the second-highest number of daily confirmed cases. 

Our third wave appears to be due to the sustained increase in the rate of mew infections. The surge in cases appears to have been driven, in the main, by:
• The recent large gatherings by people engaging in looting and destruction of property; and
• An increase in Interprovincial travel; and
• Large gatherings at pubs and restaurants, which I will touch on a bit later.

We have also noted an increase in cluster cases, with schools emerging as the biggest contributor in this regard. In fact, more than 120 schools have reported clusters in their school settings; and more than 800 learners and teachers have been affected. Learners make up at least 95% of this number, while educators account for the remaining 5%.

In the latest 24-hour reporting cycle, our Province has registered a total of 3 445 confirmed COVID – 19 cases, which has pushed the total number of cases to 427 908.

KwaZulu-Natal currently has 40 703 active cases of COVID - 19 and has registered 12 535 deaths overall, due to the pandemic. Thankfully, 373 806 people have recovered. 

Our Province, nevertheless, remains the third-highest in terms of laboratory-confirmed cases, contributing 16% or 427 908 of the cases countrywide. The average number of cases recorded daily, using the 7-day moving average, was 2 518 cases per day.

In the past week (week 32), the province observed a 31% increase in the number of new cases (4 641 cases).

The province has also had an increase in the incidence risk from 116 - 131 cases per 100 000 population group.

The increase occurred in eight districts, with the exception of Amajuba, Uthukela and Umzinyathi; while EThekwini, UMgungundlovu, Ilembe, King Cetshwayo and Zululand observed a drastic increase in cases.

HOSPITALISATION

The number of hospitalizations is also increasing steadily in both the public and private health facilities, with some facilities reporting extremely high occupancy rates in ICU beds.

The Department is looking at alternatives in expanding ICU bed capacity.

FATALITIES

With the rise in confirmed cases in the province, we have also noted an increase in the number of deaths. Over the past week, we have noted a 16% increase in the number of deaths as compared to the week before.

The fatality rate now stands at 3% (3% deaths among people who tested positive), with a mortality rate of 110 deaths per 100 000 population group (risk of dying in the KZN population and respective Districts due to COVID-19).

Harry Gwala, Amajuba, Umkhanyakude and Umzinyathi districts have an even higher case fatality rate, at more than 4%.

In terms of the mortality rate, Amajuba District stands at 174 deaths per 100 000 population group, followed by Umgungundlovu at 171 cases per 100 000 population group, and

King Cetshwayo  at 120 deaths per 100 000.

The number of deaths occurring at home increases on daily basis, which is also concerning, because these are people whose lives might have been saved, had they presented themselves to our hospitals.

THE PROVINCE’S RESPONSE PLAN

In response to the upsurge of cases, we can indicate that there are still enough beds in the Province. 

We have also retained the number of field hospitals that were being utilized during the 1st and 2nd waves. We have also established a roving team of highly-skilled people, such as epidemiologists, public health specialists, medical experts, infection control experts, and nursing professionals, to assist districts that are experiencing a surge in cases.

We are also continuously assessing facility readiness, with the support of partners such as WHO, US Centres for Disease Control, and the National Department of Health, which we appreciate.

Our oxygen capacity is also continuously being assessed, in order to identify pressure points and ensure early intervene where necessary.

We are urging citizens of KwaZulu-Natal to go to their nearest health facilities if they’re not feeling well, in order to reduce the number of home deaths and patients dying on arrival at our health care facilities.

We also want to stress once again that compliance to non-pharmaceutical measures such as the wearing of masks, regular hand washing with soap and water, and social distancing, is key. 

IMPORTANT FINDINGS BY THE SA HEALTH PRODUCTS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (SAHPRA); AND VACCINATION UPDATE

We also wish to take this opportunity and welcome the recent findings by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, to the effect that there is no reason to worry about the safety of the COVID – 19 vaccines that are being used in the country.

We will remember that this regulatory body had received 2 033 reports of adverse events following immunisation by certain people. However, most of these complaints were not serious.

SAHPRA then began an investigation into 29 cases of death that occurred shortly after people had received the COVID – 19.

Up to this point, these investigations have been completed, and it has been found that these 29 deaths were not related or linked to the vaccination.

We are relieved and feel quite vindicated by these findings, as we have always maintained that the vaccines that are in use have undergone rigorous scientific testing.

It must be said though that when safety concerns first arose about the vaccines, we started seeing a decline in the number of people who came forward to vaccinate. Suddenly, people started staying away.

Therefore, we hope that with these findings, people will start coming back in large numbers to get vaccinated, so that we can continue with our important journey towards achieving population immunity. We are vaccinating about 30 000 people per day. In order to reach the target of 7,2 million vaccinations by 31 March 2022, we need to vaccinate at least 60 000 people per day.

We are therefore urging our fellow compatriots to come in, in large numbers and get vaccinated.

We have the necessary capacity, and the vaccine supplies for this.

The ball is now in our court.

It is entirely up to us to be like other countries, where life has gone back to normal, with COVID – 19 brought under control, and no need for national lockdowns.

I’m quite sure many people are envious of European countries that we see on TV, where people no longer wear masks; where football fans, for instance, are now able to go back and attend matches. It can also happen here if we get vaccinated.

CLAMPING DOWN ON CONGESTION AT PUBS AND RESTAURANTS

It has been brought to our attention that a number of trendy pubs and restaurants are flouting Level 3 regulations by letting in a large number of people into their establishments.

This seems to intensify as the clock ticks closer to 10pm. Kuthiwa liyabhubha, as you find mostly young people extremely congested in these places, with absolutely no regard for social distancing.

It appears that owners of these pubs and restaurants have lowered their guard, and are now conducting full-scale super-spreader events. We want to remind them of the regulations that are in place as part of Adjusted Level 3 of the national lockdown, which state very clearly that such establishments may only have 50 people indoors, and 100 people outdoors.

There is still a curfew in place, which is from 10pm to 4am.

I have instructed the security cluster to look closely into this situation. We warn to send a strong warning to all business operators and, indeed patrons themselves, to respect the law.

We really do not want a situation where we are forced to revoke people’s trading licences and shut them down, as this will worsen an already tough situation. We hope it will not come to that, because we want to see everyone succeed and recover from the effects of COVID – 19 and the recent unrest.

CONCLUSION

The increase in the number of daily cases per week is a clear indication that we are not yet out of the woods and should therefore not let our guards down.

The transmission level is still very high. This means the chances of infected people spreading the virus to other people is still very high in KwaZulu-Natal.

We wish to emphasise, yet again, the need for all of us to avoid super spreader events that lead to outbreaks.

We need to ease the pressure on our hospitals and our health workers who have been fighting COVID-19 for the past 17 months.

Let us ensure that everyone is vaccinated.

Thank you.

ENDS