COVID-19 claims man's life at Durban hospital, death toll hits 13
There's been another COVID-19 death in South Africa, bringing the toll to 13.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize made the announcement this afternoon.
"This is a man, in Parklands Hospital in Durban who was 60-years-old but was having stage four prostate cancer. It was a very debilitating condition but was found to be positive when testing for COVID-19."
"He was in this hospital, but he had earlier been in another hospital - St. Augustine's."
Mhize also announced an increase in the number of coronavirus infections - South Africa's confirmed cases now stands at 1 749.
Mkhize also confirmed that 66 people have tested positive at Durban's St Augustine's Hospital over the past few days.
He says 48 of them are the staff.
He says they're concerned about the developments at the hospital.
We are concerned about developments at St Augustine’s Hospital. 66 tested positive over the past few days. About 48 of them are staff. The Provincial dept. is engaging the hospital, with a view to closing parts of the hospital down
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) April 7, 2020
Last week, the Netcare Group said three patients who had been admitted to St Augustine's died of COVID-19 complications.
READ: Discharged St. Augustine's patients urged to contact Health
After the first group of workers tested positive - the hospital shut down its emergency department and began conducting mass screenings and testing of all staff.
The facility has also stopped taking new admissions.
