KZN well-equipped for virus outbreak: Health MEC
KwaZulu-Natal is prepared and well-equipped to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, says Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu.
Simelane-Zulu says they remain resolute in the fight against the invisible enemy - which has infected 1 142 people in KZN so far.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, journalists raised concerns about the province not having enough sick beds for those newly diagnosed with the virus.
Simelane-Zulu says KZN currently has four quarantine facilities in the province, two in eThekwini and one each in the iLembe and King Cetshwayo District Municipalities.
"Our facilities are divided into three. The first part of our facility is the work that we have been doing since February, looking at all the hospital we have, look at which ones can be reconfigured, and that is what we have done. Out of that process, we came out with a lot of beds."
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"The second element, we are creating field hospitals where we have a bigger place and reconfigure it and turn it into a hospital. The third element is where we are putting up temporary structures, now that is something that is going to cost us a bit of bit."
Simelane-Zulu says they don't have enough money for what is needed.
"None of us thought [COVID-19] was going to come our lifetime, so whatever budgeting that we have within of coffers is nowhere near enough to what we need."
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who visited KZN on Tuesday, said he was satisfied with our province's efforts and handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
