- A convent in Mthatha, which doubles up as an old age home, has been devastated by the spread of Covid-19.
- Four nuns who died there are all over the age of 60.
- A nun who works as a nurse at Life St Mary's Hospital in Mthatha has been identified as the source of the virus.
Four Eastern Cape nuns have died from Covid-19 within days of each other while 17 more have tested positive for the virus as a Mthatha convent has been devastated by a surge in coronavirus cases.
The Congregation of the Precious Blood Sisters (CPS) announced on Tuesday that "an upsurge of Covid-19 has befallen the mother house convent of CPS in Mthatha which also serves as an old age home".
Sister in charge Nokwanda Bam said sisters Celine Nxopo, Maria Cord Wardhor, Martha Anne Dlamini and Beautrice Khofu died between 8 and 14 June.
She said they were all over 60-years-old.
Nxopo was buried on Monday, seven days after her death, said Bam.
Cord Wardhor died on 12 June, Dlamini on the 13th, while Khofu died the following day.
Bam said in the statement that the deaths began with the infection of a sister who works as a nurse at St Mary's Hospital in Mthatha.
Life Healthcare group general manager for emergency medicine Dr Charl van Loggerenberg confirmed the nurse had tested positive.
Bam said the nurse is presently regarded as the prime source of the virus.
30 healthcare workers tested positive
"After being discovered to be infected on 2 June, she was fetched by hospital authorities and taken to a B&B for quarantine in Mthatha."
Van Loggerenberg said since January or February 2020, a total of 30 healthcare workers had tested positive for Covid-19 at Life St Mary's Private Hospital. There is one death so far, he said.
Bam added: "After her, other members of the community were also discovered to be infected, resulting in four of them, all of them elderly, succumbing to the virus last week. In the meantime, it has been discovered that more Sisters are infected, young and old. Presently 17 have tested positive, 15 are negative and three are still waiting for the results of the test."
On 1 June, Parliament's oversight committee on health portfolio chairperson Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo and the Eastern Cape Department of Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba visited St Mary's Hospital to investigate reports of high numbers of infection among staff.
They were however barred from entering the hospital, News 24 reported.
Life Healthcare Group had since apologised for the "unfortunate" incident with the group's regional manager Bruce Janssens, explaining that the oversight committee could not be assisted because the manager of the hospital was in quarantine after she was in contact with a matron who had tested positive for Covid-19.
The rapid spread of coronavirus cases and high mortality rate in the Eastern Cape has concerned Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, prompting him to make frequent visits to the province.
Currently there are 11 039 cases, 245 deaths and 5 475 recoveries in the province.
Employees given option to 'quarantine or self-isolate'
Van Loggerenberg said: "We can confirm that a nurse who works in our hospital and resides at the convent tested positive for Covid-19. She is the only nurse within that department who has tested positive, which means it is not plausible that she contracted the virus at work.
"Employees who have tested positive for Covid-19, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or work through the agency, are given the option to quarantine or self-isolate at accommodation provided for them by the hospital if they are unable to do so at home.
"This is a measure put in place by the hospital as a responsible employer to assist employees during their time of need and to protect their families from potentially being infected as well."
He said currently one is hospitalised, 16 remain in self-isolation, one has passed away and 12 have recovered.
"Of the 12 who have recovered, eight have returned to work, one is on sick leave and three are on annual leave. Over the next week or so, employees that remain in isolation/quarantine, are expected to return to normal duties post their required isolation/quarantine," said Van Loggerenberg.
He said the staff member who passed away had co-morbidities, or other existing health conditions.
Van Loggerenberg confirmed the nurse had been taken from the convent by the group to a quarantine site.
"The establishments that the hospitals have partnered with to provide accommodation are upmarket facilities and are paid by Life Healthcare. There is no cost to the employee and meals are delivered to the employees at the accommodation establishments," he said.
"In some instances, there is inadequate information to determine if the infection was community acquired or from exposure within the hospital. It is important to note that the community transmission of the virus is a national challenge and one which the facility is not immune to. Employees may be exposed to the virus within the community and not be aware that they are a carrier of the virus if asymptomatic."
Stay healthy and entertained during the national lockdown. Sign up for our Lockdown Living newsletter. Sign up and manage your newsletters in the new News24 app by clicking on the Profile tab