Covid-19 spike in Ilembe forces tighter restrictions

A sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases has led to increased restrictions for the festive season holidays.

Last week iLembe district recorded 854 new Covid-19 cases, with 133 deaths and 6 972 recoveries since March, according to the KZN Health Department.

According to a Stanger hospital doctor, who spoke to the Courier anonymously, the number of hospitalisations has more than doubled in the past 3 weeks, raising fears about the capacity of regional health care systems.

Twelve staff in the human resources department at the hospital are believed to have tested positive for the virus.

The health department had not verified this information at the time of publication.

Tongaat’s Mediclinic Victoria hospital general manager Jenny Meer said they had also had a dramatic increase in the number of Covid-19 patients with minimal beds available. 

“We have however, made provisions to manage non-Covid patients in safe areas. We urge everyone to be cautious and take necessary preventative measures required under the circumstances,” said Meer. 

Last week KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala said there had been a 160% increase in the positivity rate and a 300% increase in hospitalisations country-wide in the last three weeks.

According to the health department, as of Monday South Africa recorded 7 999 new infections and 170 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the number of confirmed cases since the virus outbreak to 860 964. 

Amid concerns that new Covid-19 infections in the country’s second wave were increasing rapidly president Cyril Ramaphosa imposed mandatory countywide curfews during his televised address to the nation on Monday night. 

Ramaphosa singled out Balllito and said the alarming spike in infections from the Rage festival, a “superspreader event”, resulted in more than 900 teenagers testing positive.

He said the government wanted to contain the virus without imposing restrictions that may hurt the economy. 

“Unless we do things differently, this will be the last Christmas for many, many South Africans,” warned the President.

New Covid-19 restrictions he announced are:

• KwaZulu-Natal beaches will be closed on December 16, 25, 26 and 31 and January 1, 2, 3 (fishing with a permit is allowed on these days).
• The nighttime curfew has been extended from 11pm to 4am and restaurants and bars must close at 10pm. 
• Alcohol will again only be sold from Monday though Thursday between 10am and 6pm. 
• Gatherings may not exceed 50% of venue capacity, up to a maximum of 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors. All post-funeral gathering are prohibited. 
• No consumption of alcohol in public places, including parks and beaches.

The latest figures place KwaZulu-Natal among the 4 provinces that are driving the spread of the virus, alongside Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.

New infections have been blamed on people’s failure to wear masks and practice social distancing.