South African Covid-19 News and Discussions 2

[bwana]

More field hospitals for Eastern Cape as union expects 'explosion' of Covid-19 cases | News24

The Eastern Cape provincial government is planning to build 4 000-bed field hospitals across the province in all the six district municipalities and two metropolitans. This is expected to decrease the load on its overburdened 91 hospitals.

www.news24.com

The Eastern Cape is only planning to build a 4000-bed field hospital now? What have they been doing since the shutdown in late March? In the WC, we've already got 3 field hospitals up and running IIRC. I also recall Gauteng opening up one relatively early at Nasrec.

They're talking about opening multiple 4000 bed field hospitals across the province, at least six that I can make out. Not just the one they started on yesterday. We've already got a number of places up and running, including the one at the stadium.

Out of curiosity just how big are these three in the WC that are up and running? Are you talking about the 850 bed Hospital of Hope at the CTICC? Or the 60 bed Khayelitsha Field Hospital? I'd expect more given the number of infected persons in the WC.

Anyway - beds are easy to come by, ventilators too - the real shortage is going to be medical personnel to staff these places.

 

[RedViking]

They're talking about opening multiple 4000 bed field hospitals across the province, at least six that I can make out. Not just the one they started on yesterday. We've already got a number of places up and running, including the one at the stadium.

Out of curiosity just how big are these three in the WC that are up and running? Are you talking about the 850 bed Hospital of Hope at the CTICC? Or the 60 bed Khayelitsha Field Hospital? I'd expect more given the number of infected persons in the WC.

Anyway - beds are easy to come by, ventilators too - the real shortage is going to be medical personnel to staff these places.

I can only imagine a bunch of horror stories to follow.

 

[Lupus]

Because regularly, doctors do not test for viral infections, so they don't know for sure if it's a bacteria or a virus (speaking regular years and regular flu here) so the simply prescribe antibiotics in case it's a bacterial infection. Happens all over the world, which is why we now have drug resistant bacteria running rampant.

Thought the world had moved on, our doctor hardly ever prescribes antibiotics. My old doctor used to but he was close to 60 the last time I went to him

 

[pinball wizard]

Thought the world had moved on, our doctor hardly ever prescribes antibiotics. My old doctor used to but he was close to 60 the last time I went to him

Weird. My old (ex as he retired, and old, cause he started practising when he still charged R5/consultation) was pretty cutting edge in new methods and not prescribing pills of any kind simply for the sake of it.

I found new/younger doctors to be more inclined to prescribe something without doing a proper diagnosis to simply get the next person through the door.

 

[sand_man]

Over a 100 COVID positive students at a single EC school!!

 

[Paulsie]

I found new/younger doctors to be more inclined to prescribe something without doing a proper diagnosis to simply get the next person through the door.

Although not generalizing, that seems to be the case. 15min appointment, symptom x = treatment y. If not working, let's come back and try z. If still not working, then we will investigate.

 

[Lupus]

Although not generalizing, that seems to be the case. 15min appointment, symptom x = treatment y. If not working, let's come back and try z. If still not working, then we will investigate.

Weird that sounds like my old doctor, the new ones will check things, though the one isn't great with kids the other one is.

 

[Geoff.D]

Weird. My old (ex as he retired, and old, cause he started practising when he still charged R5/consultation) was pretty cutting edge in new methods and not prescribing pills of any kind simply for the sake of it.

I found new/younger doctors to be more inclined to prescribe something without doing a proper diagnosis to simply get the next person through the door.

100% agree. The old style doctor, who had less access to designer drugs does a far better job diagnosing than the new wet behind the ears generation. Without their MRI scans and blood tests, and pee tests, they are lost.

 

[Geoff.D]

Over a 100 COVID positive students at a single EC school!!

Meh! Just indicates a hotspot. They all got it from their adults in the community. Nothing to panic about as far as the kids are concerned. The community served by the school on the other and is a problem.

 

[MiW]

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

They're talking about opening multiple 4000 bed field hospitals across the province, at least six that I can make out. Not just the one they started on yesterday. We've already got a number of places up and running, including the one at the stadium.

Out of curiosity just how big are these three in the WC that are up and running? Are you talking about the 850 bed Hospital of Hope at the CTICC? Or the 60 bed Khayelitsha Field Hospital? I'd expect more given the number of infected persons in the WC.

Anyway - beds are easy to come by, ventilators too - the real shortage is going to be medical personnel to staff these places.

Yes, those field hospitals you mentioned. There is a possibility for another 800-bed field hospital in another area of the CTICC, although I don't think that will be built as the current 850-bed Hospital of Hope isn't currently near capacity (the latest stat I saw a few days ago were that 88 had been admitted and of those, 57 had already been discharged). Combine this with the predicted peak in the WC soon (this week or next week), as well as anecdotal conversations and I don't think any further field hospitals are necessary.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Dodging questions: Dlamini-Zuma does not have available the reasons a state of disaster was declared | News24

The "scientific rationale" relied on to ban the sale of tobacco products is also not available, nor the reasons why alcohol sales are allowed under Level 3 lockdown.

www.news24.com

 

[ShaunSA]

Dodging questions: Dlamini-Zuma does not have available the reasons a state of disaster was declared | News24

The "scientific rationale" relied on to ban the sale of tobacco products is also not available, nor the reasons why alcohol sales are allowed under Level 3 lockdown.

www.news24.com

Misleading Parliament is a violation of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members' Interests for Assembly and Permanent Council Members.

 

[Lupus]

She's done it before, yet here we are

 

[redspark]

Scientist says the answer for Covid-19 testing lies in sewage surveillance

With the country facing a shortage of Covid-19 tests kits, a scientist from the University of the Free State believes that the answer to bolster testing lies in sewage surveillance.

www.timeslive.co.za

If this actually works it could be a game changer

SA sewage is now being checked to track Covid-19 hotspots

The Water Research Commission is hunting for traces of the Covid-19-causing coronavirus in South Africa’s wastewater.

www.businessinsider.co.za

 

[Grant]

Anyway - beds are easy to come by, ventilators too - the real shortage is going to be medical personnel to staff these places.

W/C has about 2000 health worker volunteers on standby currently.

 

[Grant]

She always looks drunk and stupid

 

[pinball wizard]

She's done it before, yet here we are

Not just her...

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Go Team SA: http://www.wits.ac.za/covid19vaccine/

 

[MiW]

Go Team SA: http://www.wits.ac.za/covid19vaccine/

The Oxford Vaccine started trials in Brazil and now here... if it goes wrong, will be hell