OUT OF 218 TESTS, 0 POSITIVE CASES

MBABANE – For the first time in four weeks, Eswatini has recorded no new cases of COVID- 19 out of 218 tests.

The last time the kingdom recorded zero cases was on April 14, where 20 tests had been done. On April 12, there were 21 tests and there were also no positive cases. Similarly, there were 14 tests done on April 10 and the results all came back negative.

This time around, what has made the results momentous is that Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi disclosed that a total of 218 results were received yesterday and were all negative for the coronavirus.
She revealed this during a press briefing in Cabinet. Nkosi mentioned that the total number of confirmed cases to date remained at 187.

Recoveries

The minister announced that there were three more recoveries, taking the total number of recoveries to 51 and that there were 72 admitted cases. She said 61 patients were under home care and one was still missing as his family had reported that he went to work.

She said the ministry was still trying to trace him.
“The fact that there were no positive cases today does not mean Eswatini has flattened the epidemic curve. This is subject to the randomness of our laboratory sample batches and the population that was sampled,” the minister said.

She noted that the laboratory capacity had increased and the turnaround time had also improved. The minister mentioned that factors impacting the case finding included the laboratory result turnaround time, contact tracing, screening, swab collection and sample transportation activities at regional and facility levels.

When questioned on why there were still issues with PPEs in health facilities when there were more donations, Nkosi acknowledged that it was one of the biggest challenges the ministry was faced with.

She said there were levels in which PPEs were used. Nkosi stated that each required a specific level and that health workers, who required level four of the PPE, worked with a patient who was highly infected.
She made an example of EPR officers who fetched patients from home using ambulances.

The minister said these had to work while wearing goggles and face shields.
Nkosi further articulated that these PPEs were entirely different from those worn by nurses or doctors, which included gowns and N95 masks.  She mentioned that when nurses complained of shortage of PPEs, they did not mean there was none at all but rather some components of it. The minister stated that most of the time the donations were masks.

 When asked on the update of beds in the various facilities, the minister said the ministry had not reached the 200 intended beds.
She added that there was a plan to establish a ward which would accomodate 104 hospital beds and 20 intensive care unit (ICU) beds. She highlighted that the ministry expected the completion of this project within four to five weeks.

She elaborated that the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre was not a quarantine facility but an isolation for treatment space.  She said there would be 140 beds and this weekend,  beds would be put in the facility.
She conveyed her appreciation to all frontline staff in the COVID-19 fight. She said these included healthcare workers and security forces among others.

“Their dedication and selfless commitment is highly appreciated and noticed by emaSwati. Covid-19 is an infection with evolving events, which means the approach will continuously be marked by changes,” Minister Nkosi said. She further assured the nation that the ministry was committed to bringing about all necessary changes in the intervention, thus reshaping the country’s response to the pandemic.

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