Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says bed capacity in the country’s hospitals is expected to be breached in the next four weeks as the country battles to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Mkhize addressed members of Parliament on Wednesday. He said although the current projects had shown that fewer Covid-19 patients would need hospitalisation, the country’s bed capacity for those in need will be insufficient as the country heads towards its peak.
“Currently planned hospital beds in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng are projected to be insufficient for combined non-ICU bed demand and the overflow from ICU once ICU capacity has been breached. Bed capacity, including all currently committed public and private sector beds, is expected to be breached in the next four weeks.
The minister said there had been various field hospitals that have been built across the country which could help add additional bed capacity.
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