KZN gears up for Covid-19 ’battle’

“We have now entered the battlefield.”

This was KZN premier Sihle Zikalala’s statement today (Sunday) as he addressed the media on the province’s Covid-19 statistics during the official handover of the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds field hospital.

With 3 763 infections recorded in KZN, Zikalala said the agricultural showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg will serve as a major health capacity booster in the fight against the deadly virus, as it was recently transformed into a healthcare facility offering 254 isolation beds.

It will service the uMgungundlovu, Harry Gwala and uThukela districts.

“This facility places us in a good position to accommodate patients who need to be quarantined while waiting for their test results, and to isolate and treat those who test positive,” said the premier.

The Durban Exhibition Centre is also being revamped as a field hospital by the national Department of Health.

“We are now in the battle zone. The rise in infections is a clarion call to arms. All of us must now take our defence weapons to the battle.

“Let us wear our masks and not only use them to cover our chins. Let us sanitise regularly, let us keep our social distance,” said Zikalala.

The breakdown in the number of infections per district is: 

The province has recorded 64 deaths and eThekwini and Ilembe remain hot spots.

The premier added that since the reopening of schools last week, 28 positive cases involving teachers and five cases involving pupils have been reported.

The breakdown of school cases per district: 

• AMAJUBA – 0
• HARRY GWALA – 2
• ILEMBE – 1
• KING CETSHWAYO – 1
• PINETOWN – 6
• UGU – 4
• UMGUNGUNDLOVU – 4
• UMKHANYAKUDE – 0
• UMLAZI – 7
• UMZINYATHI – 1
• UTHUKELA – 1
• ZULULAND – 1
• Grand Total – 28

Zikalala urged teachers and pupils to exercise caution even when they are not on school premises.

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