Thembeka Ndwandwe

Dark times may land in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal as the recent COVID-19 infections points to a cloud on the horizon.

On his visit at the Gauteng hospitals, NASREC and Lenasia, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, cautioned that KZN could take over with its COVID-19 infections, Gauteng being at the top. He said there has been a sudden surge on the number of infections in the province, he trepidates that the numbers skyrockets daily.

In recent weeks, the KZN COVID-19 infections inexplicably surged from 10,632 confirmed cases to 34,982 cases in less than 21 days pushing the total numbers to 45,614, which is evident that the situation is only exacerbating. The most severely hit places being EThekwini (Durban) and UMgungundlovu (Pietermaritzburg).

Bearing in mind that the province has already suffered the COVID-19 calamity by losing 12 health workers, 60% of those workers are nurses, Sihle Zikala previously revealed this during a media briefing.

Mkhize further stated that they’re watching KZN with a hawk’s eye.

“We are watching the trends and certainly Gauteng is at the top of rate infection. KZN is taking over now and we’ll need to reach out to them so that they don’t get caught up with the numbers,” said Mkhize.

Mkhize stressed that, the department is now at a point where it must stay ahead of the surge.

“We want to ensure that they don’t have the challenge with beds and with oxygen and that the turnaround times are also reduced, Mkhize,” he said.