Ramaphosa: SA still needs 12 000 health workers
As South Africa heads into its peak of Covid-19 infections, the country is still in need of 12 000 healthcare workers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the shortage mostly relate to nurses, doctors and physiotherapists.
Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday night as he country battles to contain the spread of Covid-19.
He revealed that the country now has 276,242 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The president said more than two million coronavirus tests have been conducted across the country.
"We have recruited and continue to recruit additional nurses, doctors and emergency health personnel. We still have a serious shortage of more than 12,000 health workers, mostly nurses, doctors and physiotherapists.”
Ramaphosa pointed out that government has made almost 28,000 hospital beds available for virus patients and field hospitals have also been built across the country.
"We now have over 37,000 quarantine beds in private and public facilities across the country, ready to isolate those who cannot do so at home. We have secured 1,700 additional ventilators, and companies in South Africa are in the process of producing another 12,000 ventilation devices for delivery between the end of July and the end of August.
"We have procured and delivered millions of items of personal protective equipment to hospitals, clinics and schools across the country to protect our frontline workers.”
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President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement in a televised address to the nation on Sunday night. "There is now clear evidence that the resumption of alcohol sales has resulted in substantial pressure being put on hospitals, including trauma and ICU units, due to motor vehicle accidents, violence and related trauma," he said.