CAPE TOWN - Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg has reported a steady decline in Covid-19 patient admissions shortly after their peak in late July, early August.
As South Africa's Covid-19 infection rate continues to drop and recovery rate continues to rise with a 90 percent recovery rate at the time of writing, hospitals are finally able to take their foot off the pedal with Covid-19 patient admissions decreasing after the country had hit its peak in infections in August.
Netcare had released an article on their website sharing St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg experiencing a steady decline in Covid-19 patient admissions by 93 percent according to general manager of the hospital, Louis Joubert and with other Netcare hospitals through the KwaZulu-Natal province showing similar statistics according to Netcare’s coastal regional director, Craig Murphy.
“We continue to maintain comprehensive Covid-19 precautionary measures in our hospital, and urge the public to also maintain their vigilance at this time and observe all precautions,” adds Joubert, “The significant decline paved the way for us to safely re-introduce elective surgery and to once again provide specialist services to persons who, during the first stages of lockdown, had to postpone surgeries such as knee replacements and tonsillectomies, and other procedures such as gastrointestinal investigations, amongst many others."
Joubert continues by saying, “As the manager of Netcare St Anne’s Hospital I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every staff member, doctor and healthcare professional at our facility for the vital role that they have played at the frontline of responding to the pandemic so far."
“The wonderful team of clinicians, nursing staff, paramedics, cleaning, catering and security service providers, administrative and technical staff, all pulled together and showed their dedication and mettle during this challenging time. They are all heroes," Joubert said, also acknowledging and thanking the Netcare head and coastal regional offices throughout the pandemic making it possible to put all and necessary measures in order to protect patients, visitors and healthcare workers.
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