KZN taking over Gauteng as Covid-19 hotspot, Mkhize says

Gauteng is the country’s coronavirus hotspot at the moment, having taken over that position from the Western Cape, but KwaZulu-Natal is on its way to take over from Gauteng when looking at its rate of infection, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said.

He made the statement on a visit to the Nasrec Covid-19 field hospital in Johannesburg on Monday morning.

Although the Eastern Cape currently has more confirmed cases than KZN, only Gauteng has more active cases than KwaZulu-Natal.

KwaZulu-Natal has also reported 31 744 unresolved positive tests, which is 19% of all the active cases in the country.

Mkhize added that he would be “catching up with them to make sure they don’t get caught up with the numbers”, making sure that there are enough beds available for all those who need it.

“We want to make sure that they don’t have a challenge with beds and with oxygen,” the health minister said.

“We will discuss with KZN the issue of having enough beds and oxygen for patients. The turnaround times should also be reduced. Our clinicians are on top of their game and they have good enough experience,” he added.

READ| While the number of new #COVID19 cases is stabilising in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal is expected to join Gauteng as the country’s epicentre, @HealthZA Minister, @DrZweliMkhize, has warned https://t.co/SWTy4JfBZS #LSDHVisit pic.twitter.com/Iu7VrKFLrX

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) July 20, 2020

Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize: we will discuss with KZN the issue of having enough beds & oxygen for patients. The turnaround times should also be reduced #COVID19

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) July 20, 2020