STATEMENT OF THE MEC FOR HEALTH: MS SASEKANI MANZINI ON THE STATUS UPDATE ON THE COVID-19 IN THE PROVINCE
21 May 2020
Update on Cases
The COVID-19 cases keeps increasing on the daily bases, as the Department is ramping-up community screening and referred presumptive cases for testing. For now, no country or province has a solution to wither the COVID-19 pandemic in the absence of the clinically tested vaccine. The country registered its first case on the 5 March 2020 and Mpumalanga reported its first case on the 11 March 2020, both imported by the international travellers.
... Ehlanzeni recorded its first case in Nkomazi on the 11 March 2020, Gert Sibande had its first case in Govan Mbeki on the 17 March 2020 and Nkangala had its first case in Steve Tshwete on the 17 March 2020. All these cases had history of international travel.

As at, 21 May 2020, Mpumalanga has reported 90 cases, however the Minister reported 95 cases, therefore, the Province is verifying case number 90, 91, and 95 misallocated to the Province from other Provinces, Gauteng, Limpopo and Cape Town. The Department and the National Institute of Communicable Deceases (NICD) is verifying case number 92 and 93. Ehlanzeni has 44 cases followed by Gert Sibande with 31 and Nkangala with 16. The Province has thus far not recorded any death due to COVID-19.

Of the 90 cases, 48 (53%) are females and 42 (47%) cases are males: District Female Male Total Ehlanzeni 28 16 44 Gert Sibande 12 18 30 Nkangala 8 8 16 Total 48 42 90 Most of the cases are on the age band 20 – 64 years; only 2 females are age 70 – 74 years and 1 male age above 80 years who has since recovered. There is only one neonate case, which recovered on the 19 May 2020.

The number of recoveries recorded by the Province tells a good story especially in the three areas previously considered as epicentres and hotspots, Nkomazi, Dr Pixley Ka Isaka, and Mbombela. To date, the Province recorded 58 recoveries of the 90 cases monitored. Nkomazi and Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme have shown significant improvement as Nkomazi have only 1 active case of the 21 reported and Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme has only 2 active cases from the 17 recorded cases. Lekwa LM, Msukaligwa, Dr JS Moroka and Emakhazeni have recorded 100% recoveries. Yesterday, 20 May 2020, Victor Khanye recorded its first case.

COVID-19 Screening

To date the Department has screened 2 701 965 (60%) of the Provincial population with 1 900 985 coming from the Community Screening: 810 237 in Ehlanzeni, 447 589 in Gert Sibande and 642 889 in Nkangala. To date a total number of 612 933 screenings were done by our facilities, with hospitals recording 230 277 and PHC facilities recording 382 656 and 188 047 comes from various screening such as roadblocks, correctional services and work place screenings.

The community screening seems to be yielding positive results as the province 27 (35%) of the cases where discovered from that process. It is for this reason that we request our communities to support and allow our health care workers to conduct the community screening as this seems to be yielding positive results. The department’s strategy include monitoring the screening at the facility level as well.

Cross-Border Mobility

The Department monitors the movements and trends in the cross-border municipalities and areas. This includes areas likes Dr JS Moroka which boarders Tshwane, Victor Kanye which boarders Ekurhuleni, Govan Mbeki and Dipaleseng which boarders Ekurhuleni, Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme and Mkhondo which boarders Kwa-Zulu Natal, Lekwa which boarders Free State, and Bushbuckridge and Thaba Chweu which boarders Limpopo. Mkhondo, Dipaleseng and Victor Kanye has not recorded any case yet.

The Province continued to monitor the COVID-19 cases from the various districts up to the respective areas. As the department continue with the screening and testing exercise, the strategy to monitor trace and monitor all the contacts seems to be yielding positive results. Nkomazi and Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme were the Provincial epicentre and hotspots and got everyone extremely worried.

It is of a great concern that the boarders bordering Mpumalanga are Mozambique. According to WHO Africa Mozambique has 146 cases, with no deaths; eSwatini has 217 cases, with two (2) deaths. This is a high risk especially of the illegal borders and the road network for goods across the borders. Therefore, a multisector approach is required to prevent this emerging risk. The Department working with SAPS and SADF monitors the illegal entries.

Monitoring of Economic Zones

Working with other sector departments and private sector, the Department is monitoring mobility in the Province’s busiest economic zones, like Emalahleni, Govan Mbeki, Mbombela and Nkomazi. Govan Mbeki had recorded 50% recoveries from the 4 cases previously monitored. Govan Mbeki emerges as one of our focus areas as it recorded a case in a Mine.

Govan Mbeki recorded 10 cases, with 2 recoveries. However, given its economic status and the number of mines that surrounds it. SASOL SOC as the biggest employer, the Department in collaboration with various industries is closely monitoring Govan Mbeki.

The above goes for Emalahleni, Thaba Chweu, Mbombela, and Nkomazi, which are also the busiest and biggest economic zones. Nkomazi and Mbombela as the provincial agricultural and administrative hubs may see an increase of people returning to work.

The MEC anticipate these areas to have increased mobility as lot of industries shall be opening. Consequently, this shall have implications for other sectors as well. Hence, we shall give equal focus and attention to the cluster areas like taxi ranks, shopping malls and pay points.


For enquiries contact:
Ms Sharon Karobo Nkosi
Spokesperson of the MEC
Email: SharonN@mpuhealth.gov.za
Cell: 078 317 9518

Mr Dumisani Malamule
Spokesperson of the Department
Cell: 081 790 6307
Email: DumisaniMala@mpuhealth.gov.za

THE MPUMALANGA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REFUTES THE ALLEGATION LEVELLED BY THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (DA) AGAINST THE MEC FOR HEALTH: Ms SASEKANI MANZINI ON THE COVID-19 STATISTICS

The Department notes the concerns raised by DA regarding the COVID-19 statistics in the Province. The Department would like to state that the MEC for Health is not misleading the people of Mpumalanga as alleged by the DA. The public should note that the data for COVID-19 changes from time to time informed daily by samples and results taken on suspected COVID-19 cases. The Department dismisses the allegations raised by the DA that the MEC is misleading the public on the COVID-19 statistics.
... The MEC have no reason or intention to mislead the people of Mpumalanga, whom she serves diligently, and shall not deny anyone access to information on COVID-19 statistics. It is for these reasons that the MEC makes a concerted effort to inform the people of Mpumalanga by publishing daily statistics. The province always verifies the statistics sent.

The Minister for Health: Dr Zwelini Mkhize announces the national statistics, and thereafter the Minister send the details of the statistics to the provinces for the purposes of validation, contact tracing and linkage to care. As the province, we are responsible for the tracing of our cases and their contacts. Therefore, upon this process, the province would pick misallocated cases and report these cases to the National Department of Health for correction. Then the Minister corrects the misallocation with the subsequent announcement.

The MEC requests the media, 013NEWS in particular, to verify information to get a balanced view before publishing a story. Otherwise the MEC would be left with no option but to report this to the Media Ombudsman because this may create public panic.
Issued by the Communications Directorate. For inquiries contact Dumisani Malamule on 081 790 6307 or Sharon Nkosi on 078 317 9518.

MEC FOR HEALTH IN MPUMALANGA UPDATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT COVID-19 SCREENING.

The MEC for Health in Mpumalanga, Ms Sasekani Manzini today, Tuesday, the 28th of April 2020 updated ... community members of Mpumalanga Province about the mass door to door screening and testing Campaign for COVID-19. This is in response to the Minister 's call for Provinces to rollout the campaign which was launch by the Honourable Premier of the Province ,Ms Refilwe Mtshweni -Tsipane on the 30th of March 2020 in Dr J.S Moroka Local Municipality.
MEC outlined the update on the screening during an intreview with Mpumalanga Community Radio stations. The MEC said " The screenings have been rolled out to all priority areas in the three Districts, and I can confirm that to date 486 619 screenings have been conducted. This accounts for 165 135 conducted in Ehlanzeni, 139 242 in Gert Sibande and 182 242 in the Nkangala District"

The MEC said there are 583 suspected cases which were tested for COVID-19 with only 2 found to be positive. The total combination of COVID-19 test conducted on Public and Private Health facilities is 4 385 and only 24 cases were confirmed positive. "The Department will continue to conduct community screening and testing until the figh with Coronavirus is won. As a country we are sure that we will completely stop the virus and our people will be free from COVID-19" said MEC Manzini. Manzini further went on to plead with community members to adhere to the lockdown regulations and COVID-19 Prevention measures and continue to live a healthy lifestyle to curb the transmission.

"The issue of Lockdown requires a new behavioural change from all of us.I must indicate that we are grateful to our community members who heeded to the call of the President and stayed at home as guided by the regulations to minimise contact with others, which decreases the transmission rate of COVID-19.

I want to also urge the public and private Sectors to continue working together to fight against the pandemic. As the Department of Health, we will continue with screening and testing and to educate people about the prevention Measures to curb the spread of this virus." Closed MEC.

HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID- 19 AT MAPULANENG HOSPITAL One of the health professionals from the Mpumalanga Department of Health has tested positive for COVID-19 at Mapulaneng hospital. ... The official was tested on Friday the 24th of April 2020 after she was screened at the hospital entrance when she reported for work and was found to have a high temperature
The result was received late evening on Tuesday the 28th of April 2020. The staff were informed this morning and the primary contacts have been tested and quarantined while awaiting for their results. The Dental unit is currently closed in order to be decontaminated before it can be utilized. The tracing team is busy tracing the other contacts. The official who tested positive has since been taken to one of the isolation sites in the province. MEC for Health, Ms Sasekani Manzini visited the facility this morning and agreed together with management and organized Labour on the way forward to ensure the safety of workers and patients. The dental unit, casualty and OPD will be the first areas to be decontaminated this evening followed by the other areas until the entire hospital is decontaminated. The MEC indicated that the daily screening of staff will continue and those meeting the criteria will be refered for testing.
The safety of the frontline staff remains a priority for the department and the MEC expressed her gratitude to all the staff for their commitment . MEC Manzini has called for calm, “ I want to reassure the community of Bushbuckridge that the Department is monitoring the positive cases and their contacts very closely. The community screening and testing will continue and we can verify that it is indeed assisting to identify positive cases and prevent further spread of the pandemic” Issued by the Communications Directorate. For more information contact Dumisani Malamule on 081 790 6307.

MAPULANENG HOSPITAL IN BUSHBUCKRIDGE FULLY OPERATIONAL FOLLOWING POSITIVE CASE OF COVID-19.

The Mpumalanga Department of Health in Mpumalanga together with labour unions have taken a decision to allow services to continue at Mapulaneng Hospital in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality despite the positive case identified at the hospital. ... Yesterday, Wednesday the 29th of April 2020, one of the health professionals from the hospital tested positive for COVID-19.

The official was tested on Friday the 24th of April 2020 after being screened at the hospital entrance when reporting for work and was found to have a high temperature. Following the identified positive case, the dental unit, casualty and OPD was decontaminated.

Today, the 30th of April 2020, the Department met with labour unions that include NEHAWU, HOSPESA, DENOSA, PSA and SAMA to provide a brief on the status of the hospital. After a collective assessment, it was decided that the services at the hospital will not be halted because the decontamination process which started last night is at an advanced stage. All remaining areas of the hospital are being decontaminated and the process is expected to be completed today the 30th of April 2020. The Dental unit has already been fumigated but will remain closed since all the employees are currently on quarantine.

The Department has so far quarantined three staff members from the hospital, including the one who tested positive. The District response team, responsible for tracing patients have so far traced 10 more staff members and an assessment on their health status is being done in order to determine whether they can be taken to quarantine sites.

The Department and labour unions have expressed that the safety of the frontline staff remains a priority, therefore the daily screening of everyone who enters the hospital including staff members will continue. The department will also provide counseling and psychological support for the staff.

MEC for Health, Ms Sasekani Manzini has reiterated that the Department is monitoring the positive cases and their contacts very closely and that the community screening and testing will continue as it assisting to identify positive cases and prevent further spread of the pandemic. Issued by the Communications Directorate. For more information contact Dumisani Malamule on 081 790 6307.