Tears and cheers as Covid-19 patients discharged from hospital
Mbombo told News24: “He ended up in ICU and being [on a] ventilator. There is a notion that once you put people on a ventilator, (people) don’t survive. Or you don’t hear about those who have been on ventilators. So today we are showcasing the strength of the health system, plus the skills that the doctors have – especially the physicians in ICU.
“So while we are seeing an increase in numbers, and deaths, 90% of people are treated outside hospital. Only about 2% of people end up in ICU.
‘Beat the odds’
“Here, today, we have someone who has managed to beat all odds.”
The Western Cape has the highest number of cases by province in the country, at 9 294 of the total 15 515 cases, as of Sunday. It has recorded 149 deaths and 3 521 recoveries.
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Mbombo said the provincial government’s analysis showed the Western Cape’s death rate was approximately 1.6% – which was no higher than the national average.
They now expected the Western Cape to reach its “peak” by around June – somewhat earlier than the August-September estimation for South Africa as a whole.
