Government hospitals are easing the burden of private institutions that are bursting at the seams with Covid-19 patients.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize revealed at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg that government hospitals were accommodating patients from private hospitals.

Mkhize said they were trying to understand why private hospitals were overburdened with Covid-19 patients.

"We have been uncertain of what this movement means. At this point, we have patients referred from private to public hospitals, unlike before. This trend started in the Eastern Cape, and we realised we need to collaborate with the private hospitals. We can't allow people to fall into cracks simply because private hospitals can't accommodate them. People must be treated anywhere," Mkhize said.

Mkhize applauded public health institutions that were making plans to accommodate patients.

"We have introduced rapid antigen tests to determine within 15 minutes whether a person is [Covid-19] positive or not. Those who are positive can move on quickly while we are waiting to retest those who are negative," Mkhize said.

Mkhize said the numbers have started receding a bit.

"We believe in the effective use of masks, sanitisers and social distancing. We urge people to do what they have been doing well. We are waiting to see how Gauteng will cope.

"Last time, Gauteng went up to three times higher than KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. KwaZulu-Natal once went higher than where Gauteng was during the peak. Gauteng is showing a slight trend downwards.

"We are holding our fingers crossed. It is still too soon because people are coming back to Gauteng from all over, particularly coastal areas, where there is a high number of infections. We are waiting to see what the impact of the movement of people into Gauteng will be," Mkhize said.

Alcohol ban

Mkhize said if government hadn't introduced lockdown Level 3 restrictions, the situation would have been worse.

"We have been saved because of strong restrictions. Irresponsible consumption of alcohol tends to create unnecessary and avoidable accidents.

"We have seen huge reductions in acute trauma, emergencies, interpersonal violence, stab and gunshot wounds, motor vehicle and taxi accidents where a number of people are killed at the same time.

"We have been able, this time around, to assist and support health workers. It is most frustrating and disheartening when you have people who are sick and others who are avoidable in the cause of their accidents and some of them are abusive towards health workers (sic)," Mkhize said.

"The pressure of health is so severe that this [liquor ban] had to be done. We are saying, we are still very high, and no one must suggest that [lifting the alcohol ban]. We are also not near a stage where we can say to people take off your masks.

"We are encouraging society – that what they are doing now, is making an impact. Suspension of alcohol sales has saved our workers and space in hospitals," Mkhize said.