As scores of people are returning to Gauteng following December holidays, the province has seen a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases. To date , Gauteng has recorded 310 201 cases with 5923 deaths and 268 551 recoveries. SA has reached the 20 000 mark for new cases identified in 24 hours.
21 832 cases have been identified since the last report, bringing the total cumulativeCovid-19 cases to 1 149 591.These increases show clear signs of being the beginning of the second surge experienced in many countries around the world.
Netcare group CEO, Dr Richard Friedland, said in Gauteng they are encountering an alarming rise in admissions of Covid-19 patients across all their facilities.The surge is expected to rapidly worsen over the next two weeks.
Dr Friedland said in respect of preparations and capacity building Netcare is well equipped to maximise the group’s ability to provide care during the surge.
“Netcare has called all staff back from leave and is expecting to have staff levels back to full complement by the end of this week,”
Dr Friedland stated that Netcare has procured an additional 1 100 oxygenators which will arrive in the country this week. The group has also purchased adequate supplies of appropriate drugs and consumables. In addition, personal protective equipment to last throughout this second wave.
“The machines, which can produce up to four litres of oxygen per minute each, brings the total fleet of oxygenators to 1 400 and will decrease the burden on the oxygen supply within our hospitals. We are constantly converting more beds to red Covid-19 beds to accommodate the expected surge in Gauteng.”
