Dr Richard Friedland, CEO of the Netcare Group, has issued the following statement
Update on Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital
Friday, April 3 2020
In the last 72 hours, three patients have tragically passed away from COVID-19 at Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital. We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the patients’ loved ones, and pray for them in this time of great loss and sadness.
Two of the patients were first admitted to the hospital on 9 and 13 March 2020 respectively, and the third patient on 14 March 2020. These patients did not have a history of recent international travel or known contact with a person who was COVID-19 positive, nor did they present with any symptoms of COVID-19 when they were screened on admission.
This situation prompted Netcare and Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital, in close collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health (KZN DoH), to take the precautionary decision to test all healthcare and support workers who may have come into contact with the three patients for COVID-19 infection.