The worst is over – Mkhize

MINISTER of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday the country was over the worst of the Covid-19 crisis.

“We can say we are over the surge. The plateau has started. In the Western Cape, it’s been over two months. KZN is now also decreasing. That’s indicative of a promising time,” said Mkhize.

However, Mkhize reiterated the Covid-19 regulations. “Let’s focus on the containment measures: use of masks, washing hands regularly and sanitising.”

As of yesterday, the country had 609 773 positive Covid-19 cases and a death toll of 13 059, as well as 506 470 recoveries.

KwaZulu-Natal had 104 619 confirmed cases and a provincial death toll of 1 673.

“At this point, we don’t have a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). We have a challenge in administration of PPE. We are addressing that. We are not disagreeing with the issues being raised. These must be resolved on the ground,” Mkhize said.

“The reports of corruption are devastating. People are taking advantage of their authority over resources. We condemn corruption and want to work together with law enforcement to root out corruption.”

On Friday, the director-general of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, that if health-care workers in South Africa died due to corruption, it would equate to murder.

“Any level or type of corruption is unacceptable. However, corruption related to PPE lifesaving – for me it’s actually murder because if health workers work without PPE, we’re risking their lives,” said Tedros.

“And that also risks the lives of the people they serve,” Tedros said, responding to a question on the alleged PPE tender scandal in South Africa. | African News Agency (ANA)