During a media briefing on Saturday [May 9] Health Minister Zweli Mkhize expressed his concern that all persons infected with coronavirus are not isolating themselves.
In a new strategy, everyone in the Western Cape who tests positive for the virus will be hospitalized, even if they are asymptomatic or only present mild symptoms unless they are able to prove that they are self-isolating to the required degree.
“People will be kept in hospital not because they need treatment but until they are past the point where they are infectious,” he said.
Anyone who is positive must be isolated and this is happening. Now we are going to ensure that everyone who is positive will be hospitalized.
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 9, 2020
To break the cycle you have to ensure that whoever is positive is isolated and whoever is associated is quarantined.
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 9, 2020
The Cape Town International Convention Centre is due to open as a field hospital in June, and will contain over 800 beds.
The Western Cape is now the epicentre of the virus, with almost 5 000 cases.
Picture: Twitter