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SAMA URGES ITS MEMBERS TO CONTINUE TO OBSERVE COVID-19 RULES IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS
23 June 2022
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) welcomes the repeal of the COVID-19 regulations by the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla on the 22 June 2022. SAMA recognises that there has been a decline in hospitalisation and reported cases of COVID-19 in South Africa.
According to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), new cases recorded on 22 June 2022 were 1,087 bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 987 979. This increase represents a 7.8% positivity rate. Additionally, the National Department of Health reported 20 deaths and of these, three deaths occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours. The cumulative COVID-19 deaths are at 101,640 to date. The cumulative number of recoveries now stands at 3 872 768, with a recovery rate of 97.1%. These numbers clearly demonstrates the extent of the impact of the pandemic.
SAMA welcomes the removal of the regulation measures as they pertain to the wearing of masks indoors, the number of gatherings and international travel entry. SAMA notes that the virus is still present, though not as prevalent. SAMA members as they are in the forefront of the health system are however faced with patients who may or may not present symptoms of the virus and other viral diseases.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a ‘No Regret Policy’ when it comes to taking measures to protect patients and healthcare professionals during COVID-19. The Occupational Health Act of 2003 also requires the employer to bring about and maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a work environment that is safe and without risk to the health of workers in the delivery of health services.
Due to the close proximity between healthcare workers, patients and/or patient biological materials, SAMA urges its members to continue to observe non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 measures in all healthcare settings. This includes the continued wearing of face masks and implementation of sanitisation measures for patients and healthcare professionals in medical settings. The wearing of face masks for patients and healthcare workers who are symptomatic should become the norm beyond the health care facilities. SAMA maintains that vaccination is still the most powerful weapon that society has against COVID-19. So far, 32% of the population (18,9m) are fully vaccinated against COVID-19; thus increased vaccination and observing of COVID-19 regulations in healthcare settings is necessary.
[ENDS]
Notes to Editors
About SAMA The South African Medical Association was formally constituted on 21 May 1998 as a unification of a variety of doctors’ groups that had represented a diversity of interests. SAMA is a non-statutory, professional association for public, and private sector medical practitioners. SAMA is a voluntary membership association, existing to serve the best interests and needs of its members in any and all healthcare related matters.
Contact:
SAMA CEO
Dr Vusumuzi Nhlapho
079 033 8330
Email: vusumuzin@samedical.org
Spokesperson 1
Chairperson: SAMA
Dr M Mzukwa
076 382 8152
Email: mzukwam@gmail.com
Spokesperson 2
Vice-Chairperson: SAMA
Dr Edward Ngwenya
Email:ngwenyare@gmail.com
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