COVID-19: Netcare lessons from St Augustine’s Hospital outbreak

Netcare’s St. Augustine hospital in Kwa Zulu-Natal made headlines this week as the government stepped in to shut down the facility after 47 people working at the hospital contracted the coronavirus and four individuals tragically lost their lives. CNBC Africa had the opportunity to sit down with Netcare CEO Dr. Richard Friedland to discuss the situation and shed light on the proactive measures taken by the healthcare provider. Dr. Friedland emphasized that Netcare had preemptively closed the hospital's emergency departments and halted emergency surgeries the week prior to the official shutdown, illustrating the hospital's commitment to safeguarding its staff and patients. The CEO refuted claims of negligence, stating that Netcare had been diligently preparing for the COVID-19 pandemic since early this year, implementing stringent protocols to mitigate the spread of the virus. As the global healthcare community grapples with the challenge of asymptomatic carriers, Dr. Friedland shared key learnings from the St. Augustine outbreak, including the importance of rigorous screening, zone segregation, and universal hygiene practices. Despite substantial investments in protective gear and equipment, Dr. Friedland acknowledged the ongoing battle against an unprecedented adversary and stressed the critical role of hand hygiene and social distancing in combatting the virus.