Mediclinic Vereeniging’s first COVID-19 patient discharged

^{VEREENIGING. – Mediclinic states that the first COVID-19 patient who was admitted to the hospital on 14 May, has since been discharged and will continue with self isolaton at home.}

^{According to Dr Stefan Smuts, Chief Clinical Officer of Mediclinic Southern Africa, the patient was relased on 20 May and is doing well.}

^{Mediclinic earlier said that they could not provide further details on the patient as they respect and adhere to the patient’s rights to confidentiality.}

^{“We confirm that Mediclinic has implemented the necessary measures to manage any patients presenting with symptoms in strict accordance with NICD and National Department of Health protocols. These measures include the prevention of the potential transmission of the virus in our facilities. Patients that have been confirmed with the virus are cared for in isolation units, where nursing staff are trained and equipped to manage these patients according to the level of care their illness requires,” says Smuts.}

^{“As the safety of our patients, staff and doctors is of the utmost importance, Mediclinic Vereeniging has implemented a number of measures to reduce the risk of transmission and ensure their safety.}

^{“This includes strict IPC and HR policies and procedures in place to limit transmission, training and equipping our staff to perform their specific tasks as well as strict access control procedures,” he says.}

^{In addition, the hospital has designated COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 treatment areas with restricted movement of staff members between these areas.}

^{“As an additional measure, patients are issued with cloth masks, or medical masks where clinically indicated, for the duration of their admission. We continue to urge the public to take the necessary precautions by practicing good hand hygiene, social distancing as well as adhering to lockdown requirements. We also encourage anyone experiencing signs and symptoms of the disease, such as shortness of breath, fever, sore throat, coughing or who believe that that they may have been exposed to the virus to contact their healthcare provider,” concluded Smuts.}