Thirty-two more nurses at Mpilo Hospital, Bulawayo tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, a development that has forced the health institution to contract other health personnel to work in their stead.
Acting Mpilo chief executive officer Professor Solwayo Ngwenya confirmed the development adding that as a result, he was working with health partners to outsource more nurses. He said:
We are shocked to discover that an additional 32 of our health care workers were recently infected and tested positive to Covid-19 on Saturday. The department involved will rather not close because it will put thousands and thousands at risk if they do not get care. The nurses are now in isolation and we are working on disinfecting the area and outsource nurses with the help of our partners to help fill the gap until these ones recover
This also comes when health caregivers, nationwide, are on a crippling industrial action to compel the government to restore their October 2018 salaries and to improve their working conditions.
As of Friday, a total of 300 health workers had tested positive for COVID-19 countryside amid concerns that health workers are exposed to the virus as they work without adequate personal protective equipment (PPEs).
More: Chronicle