Sixty-six people at a single hospital in South Africa have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past few days, the health minister said Tuesday, as anxiety rose among health workers over the shortage of protective gear.
At least 48 of the people who tested positive at St. Augustine’s Hospital in the city of Durban are staff, Zweli Mkhize said. He said authorities are looking into closing parts of the facility.
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Sixty-six people at a single hospital in South Africa have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past few days, the health minister said Tuesday, as anxiety rose among health workers over the shortage of protective gear.
St. Augustine’s is one of Durban's largest private hospitals, said Denis Chopera, a virologist working in the city.
South Africa, the most developed country in Africa, has the most confirmed virus cases on the continent with more than 1,700. The health minister said fewer than 100 people across the country are currently hospitalized.
In Nairobi, a day after travel in and out of Kenya’s capital was cut off, there were signs of frustration.
“There is a lot of hiccups,” said Catherine Ringera, with the Athi River police station.
Residents stand on a balcony as a South African National Defence Forces vehicle patrol the street, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
A Kenyan police officer speaks to people at a road block along Mombasa Road after vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos were turned away, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP PhotoKhalil Senosi)
A Kenyan police officer speaks to people at a road block along Mombasa Road after vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos were turned away, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP PhotoKhalil Senosi)
A Kenyan police officer at a road block along Mombasa Road stops vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP PhotoKhalil Senosi)
Zimbabwe riot police patrol the streets near a fruit and vegetable market full of people despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP PhotoTsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP PhotoTsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP PhotoTsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP PhotoTsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The minister also sought to ease the fears of health workers after one union went to court last week pressing the government for more protective gear. South Africa’s stock should last up to eight weeks, he said, and no one will be forced to work where they feel unprotected.
South African civil servants assist informal vendors to receive temporary working licenses, at the entrance of a municipal office building, in Johannesburg, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP PhotoJerome Delay)
St. Augustine’s is one of Durban's largest private hospitals, said Denis Chopera, a virologist working in the city.
“This definitely shows the problem of protecting our health care workers,” he said. “These health care workers are going to go home and infect their families. Many will return home to townships and informal settlements that are crowded places where the virus could spread. There needs to be regular, frequent testing of workers. This is a big challenge for South Africa.”
“This is an untenable situation. Front-line medical staff must be protected at all times,” the chair of the South African Medical Association, Angelique Coetzee, said last week.
Informal vendors line up to receive temporary working licenses, at the entrance of a municipal office building, in Johannesburg, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP PhotoJerome Delay)
South Africa, the most developed country in Africa, has the most confirmed virus cases on the continent with more than 1,700. The health minister said fewer than 100 people across the country are currently hospitalized.
Cases across the continent topped 10,000 on Tuesday, and shortages of protective gear are acute in many countries that have some of the world’s most ill-equipped and poorly funded health systems. One is South Sudan, which announced its first case Sunday.
A growing number of countries have imposed tough measures to try to contain the virus’ spread, from national lockdowns in South Africa and Rwanda to the closing-off of some of Africa’s largest cities, including Lagos in Nigeria.
Informal vendors refused temporary working licenses speak to each other, in Johannesburg Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.(AP PhotoJerome Delay)
In Nairobi, a day after travel in and out of Kenya’s capital was cut off, there were signs of frustration.
“I had traveled from my home in Nairobi to go back to my village to collect some food for the market but then I got stuck without the bus fare to get back home,” said one thwarted traveler, Joyce Mueni. “Eventually I borrowed the money but now I’m stranded.”
Some families set off with bags and children and avoided roadblocks, walking through fields in or out of the city.
Children look out from a security gate of their flat, during a lockdown to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
“There is a lot of hiccups,” said Catherine Ringera, with the Athi River police station.
Andrew Meldrum and Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg contributed,
Children look out from a security gate of their flat, during a lockdown to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Residents stand on a balcony as a South African National Defence Forces vehicle patrol the street, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
A Kenyan police officer speaks to people at a road block along Mombasa Road after vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos were turned away, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP PhotoKhalil Senosi)
A Kenyan police officer speaks to people at a road block along Mombasa Road after vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos were turned away, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP PhotoKhalil Senosi)
A Kenyan police officer at a road block along Mombasa Road stops vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP PhotoKhalil Senosi)
Zimbabwe riot police patrol the streets near a fruit and vegetable market full of people despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP PhotoTsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP PhotoTsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP PhotoTsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP PhotoTsvangirayi Mukwazhi)