Our district is no longer the 3rd highest in covid-19 cases in Kwa-Zulu Natal having slipped down to number 6 in the province.

In April iLembe district was 2nd only to Ethekwini in the ranking of virus hotspots.

According to figures released by the KZN health department on July 28, the district hotspots in KZN are now:

1. Ethekwini: (32 306)
2. Umgungundlovu: (9 510)
3. King Cetshwayo: (4 676)
4. Amajuba: (3 570)
5. Uthukela: (3 110)
6. Ilembe: (2 986)

Provincial data updated on July 25 said the province had 1 822 patients admitted in both private (1 414) and public (408) hospitals.

Of those admitted, 274 patients required intensive care services.

Among those who required intensive care 156 were ventilated.

A total of 201 patients were admitted in high care units in both private (198) and public (25) facilities.

In a report by the iLembe district command council, Shakaville and Darnall have been added to the region’s hotspot list, which also includes Stanger, Mandeni, Groutville and Thembeni.

Rapid growth of cases is being reported in all sub-districts except for Ndwedwe.

As the country’s Covid-19 death toll pushed past 7 000 this week, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala warned at a late Sunday media briefing that the coronavirus “storm is here”.

Zikalala said the province had registered 20 000 more positive cases in one week.

“The picture has dramatically changed.

“We have now arrived at a point where almost everyone knows somebody who has been infected with Covid-19. It is no longer a disease from the distance, it is here at home.

“Our daily Covid-19 positive cases are nearing 4 000. This means that in just one week, we have had 20 557 new cases, 198 new deaths and 10 196 additional recoveries.”

Zikalala urged people to isolate at government facilities rather than at home, saying there was still enough capacity and that this would help ensure that patients are well-monitored and less likely to transmit the virus to others – unlike at home, where adhering to safety protocols may be a challenge.

“We have 16 401 beds available in KZN, of which more than 3 000 are for isolation.

“We also decided that instead of building more quarantine sites, we should hire buildings such as hotels, B&Bs, and lodges. Of those, we have 11 833 beds that we can use. We also have 1 162 quarantine beds within our own buildings.”

The premier said many people were seeking medical treatment when it was too late.

“When we engage with doctors and nurses, we are given anecdotal evidence that suggests that our people are relying a little too much on alternative treatments, and are only coming to our facilities when it is too late.

“With Covid-19, as with every other ailment, time is of the essence.”

Almost every district, suburb, and township in KZN appears to be affected by Covid-19, with eThekwini and uMgungundlovu districts recording more than half of the daily cases.

The province has contributed 27% of the new cases reported nationally and continues to be the fourth highest countrywide.

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