Health minister Archives - Page 2 of 3

Mkhize doubles down on keeping advice secret as scientists push for transparency

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize will not be releasing any of the more than 70 medical advisories drafted by the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on Covid-19, despite calls from senior scientific advisors that it can only enhance public understanding of the pandemic. A significant number of MAC members have in recent times argued the advisories - which the government said it used to formulate policy and regulations - should be released […]

19 July 2020

Local

SA records first neonatal mortality related to COVID-19

South Africa has recorded its first neonatal mortality related to COVID-19 as cases increased to 18 003. In a statement, the Department of Health announced 27 more deaths, bringing the total national deaths to 339. Among those who died are a two-day-old baby and a healthcare worker. “Sadly, we have recorded the first neonatal mortality related to COVID-19. This was a 2-day-old baby that was born prematurely and therefore, had […]

21 May 2020

Local

Covid-19 cases in SA rise to 2 173

The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has risen to 2 173, the National Department of Health announced on Sunday evening, while the death toll has remains unchanged. In a statement, Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize confirmed the increase of 145 cases compared to Saturday. According to the statement, Gauteng remains the epicentre of the virus with 865 cases, followed by the Western Cape with 587 confirmed cases and […]

13 April 2020

Local

SA records 2 more deaths as cases rise to 1 655

Two more people have died due to Covid-19 in South Africa, bringing the total number of deaths to 11, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize announced on Sunday. The number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa have also increased by 70 cases to 1 655, Mkhize said. The first deceased patient is an 82-year-old woman who was admitted to ICU on 29 March. "She had presented with fever, short breath, body […]

6 April 2020

Local

Mkhize: 87 000 hospital beds available for coronavirus patients

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says 87 000 beds are available in public health institutions to accommodate Covid-19 patients. Mkhize, who was addressing the media on Wednesday, said the health department was anticipating the number of available beds to increase as time went on. He added there were adequate ventilators to assist patients. "We have heard that some companies have offered to manufacture more ventilators and we welcomed that. We need […]

2 April 2020

Local

Patients who refuse to provide personal information to be publicly outed

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has warned South Africans the government will take decisive steps to deal with people infected with Covid-19 who refuse to provide their personal information. Mkhize said should a patient refuse to provide the government with personal information - including a list of contacts - it would disclose his or her name to the public. He was speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday following President Cyril […]

25 March 2020

Local

Patient with suspected spinal TB ‘denied critical healthcare over Covid-19’ in KZN

On 5 March, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced South Africa’s first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus. A week later, on the morning of 13 March, a Durban hostel resident - we will call him Mpilo - arose, then collapsed to the floor. His legs were not working. He had previously experienced lower back pain but no other symptoms. By late afternoon, sufficient funds were raised to put fuel […]

25 March 2020

Local

Total coronavirus infections in SA reaches 85, but Wuhan repatriates all test negative

Zweli Mkhize announced just before midnight on Tuesday that South Africa had 85 confirmed cases of Covid-19, an increase of 23 from Monday’s announcement. Six more infections were confirmed among people who had not left South Africa, with the majority residing in Gauteng. Two patients are just three years old, while the oldest among the batch of new confirmations is 62, a woman who travelled to the UK and Ethiopia. […]

18 March 2020

Local

Government will support listeria litigation: Motsoaledi

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi blasted private laboratories for delaying providing data about the listeriosis outbreak. Almost a thousand cases of listeriosis were reported in the country. Motsoaledi said government would support any community intending court action over the world's largest listeria outbreak that has killed 180 people since December. "Those members of the community who want to litigate, we will give them all the information... all the data, we'll give […]

9 March 2018

Health minister

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