COVID-19: Western Cape welcomes Cuban doctors

A group of Cuban healthcare workers will assume duties in the Western Cape in the coming week, assisting the province in its fight against COVID-19.

The Western Cape is the hardest-hit province in the country in terms of the coronavirus, accounting for over half the confirmed cases, with its death toll now at 261 out of a total of 407 in the whole country.

Cuban doctors arrive in the Western Cape

Out of the 217 medical specialists who landed in South Africa from Cuba back in April, 26 have been deployed in the province and will be welcomed via a ceremony set to take place on Sunday afternoon.

Nomawethu Sbukwana, a spokesperson of the Health Ministry explained to the SABC;

“This afternoon (Sunday), the Western Cape Health MEC Dr Nomafrench Mbombo will host a welcoming ceremony for the 26 Cuban health care workers. The brigade comprises of experts in epidemiology, biostatistics, and public health, family physicians, health care technology engineers and experts to provide technical assistance.”

Nomawethu Sbukwana

Province preparing for the worst

While the vast majority of the known COVID-19 cases in the Western Cape have displayed mild symptoms, over 500 are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, with 157 in intensive care.

With peak infections expected to hit around August, the province has prepared makeshift hospitals to house the critically ill during the coming months.

The sites that will act as healthcare facilities include the Cape Town International Convention Centre, which houses 850 beds out of a total of 2 162.

Last week, 20 healthcare from Cuba workers arrived in the Eastern Cape, another province which as seen a sharp spike in daily infections over the past month.

South Africa has a total of 21 343 COVID-19 cases, with 10 104 recoveries.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Sunday evening at 19:00 (SAST).