Coronavirus is adding further pressure to a weak mental health system
Written by Lethiwe Mdluli on 17 June, 2020
The country’s already strained mental healthcare services are now facing an increase in patients relapsing with their treatment, along with rising new cases due to the stresses of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This leaves psychiatric patients at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 because of co-morbid diseases.
There is also a difficulty following preventative measures.
The South African Society of Psychiatrists has urged public and private healthcare providers to maintain the availability of beds for psychiatric patients.
Meanwhile the coronavirus death toll in South Africa’s worst affected province, the Western Cape, has risen to 1156.
Since the previous report on the matter, another 45 people are known to have died in the province.
The Western Cape now has 12 155 active cases of Covid-19, with a total of just over 43 600 cases and almost 30 300 recoveries.
2037 patients are in ICU or high care.
By:Gagasi FM News
