Eastern Cape record a decline in COVID-19 cases

She was briefing the health portfolio committee on healthcare services in relation to COVID-19.

The province accounts for 14.5% of the country’s COVID-19 positive cases.

“We were concerned and we ramped up testing, we are grateful that we are seeing a consistent decline on the number of positive cases with the improvement on the number of tests that are done since January, we feel confident to say there is a decline in the new number of cases in the province,” says Zungu.

She is, however, concerned about the number of COVID-19-related deaths.

The Nelson Mandela Bay District has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province.

“We can see a concerning picture in terms of COVID-19 related deaths, Nelson Mandela Bay metro still continue to record a high number of deaths in the province followed by Buffalo City metro and Chris Hani district and those three are our major area of concern in relation to the number of deaths,” she added.

A total of 9,249 healthcare workers have tested positive and 161 have succumbed to the virus.

Zungu says Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay recorded a high number of healthcare workers who test positive.

She says the province has the pressure of a need for hospital beds.

“We are concerned in the districts in terms of availability of beds for the admission in the province, for Alfred Nzo, Buffalo City metro and O.R Tambo as of yesterday this three were showing pressure on the general beds, when we move to the critical care beds, there is some pressure that we are seeing.

"The other challenge that we have is that districts like Amathole, Sarah Baartman do not have designated ICU facilities however the province has made provisions to ensure that the citizens can travel to critical care units within two hours with an ambulance.”

The province has also recorded 292 cases of exam markers who have tested positive.

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