A man stretches, at the entrance of his home in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, April 7, 2020 as South Africa continued its 21 days lockdown in an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus. The virus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
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JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Sixty-six people at a single hospital in South Africa have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past few days, the health minister said Tuesday, as anxiety rose among health workers over the shortage of protective gear.
At least 48 of the people who tested positive at St. Augustine's Hospital in the city of Durban are staff, Zweli Mkhize said. He said authorities are looking into closing parts of the facility.
The minister also sought to ease the fears of health workers after one union went to court last week pressing the government for more protective gear. South Africa's supplies should last up to eight weeks, he said, adding that no one will be forced to work where they feel unprotected.
St. Augustine's is one of Durban's largest private hospitals, said Denis Chopera, a virologist working in the city.
'œThis definitely shows the problem of protecting our health care workers,'ť he said. 'œThese health care workers are going to go home and infect their families. Many will return home to townships and informal settlements that are crowded places where the virus could spread. There needs to be regular, frequent testing of workers. This is a big challenge for South Africa.'ť
'œThis is an untenable situation. Front-line medical staff must be protected at all times,'ť the chair of the South African Medical Association, Angelique Coetzee, said last week.
South Africa, the most developed country in Africa, has the most confirmed virus cases on the continent with more than 1,700. The health minister said fewer than 100 people across the country are currently hospitalized.
Cases across the continent topped 10,000 on Tuesday, and shortages of protective gear are acute in many countries that have some of the world's most ill-equipped and poorly funded health systems. One is South Sudan, which announced its first case Sunday.
A growing number of countries have imposed tough measures to try to contain the virus' spread, from national lockdowns in South Africa and Rwanda to the closing-off of some of Africa's largest cities, including Lagos in Nigeria.
In Nairobi, a day after travel in and out of Kenya's capital was cut off, there were signs of frustration.
'œI had traveled from my home in Nairobi to go back to my village to collect some food for the market but then I got stuck without the bus fare to get back home,'ť said one thwarted traveler, Joyce Mueni. 'œEventually I borrowed the money but now I'm stranded.'ť
Some families set off with bags and children and avoided roadblocks, walking through fields in or out of the city.
'œThere is a lot of hiccups,'ť said Catherine Ringera, with the Athi River police station.
Fifty-two of Africa's 54 countries now have the virus. In Ethiopia, the CEO of Africa's largest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, said three cabin crew members had tested positive. Tewolde Gebremariam gave no details.
And in the latest example of the financial pain created by the pandemic, he said the airline has lost revenue amounting to $550 million and cut 90% of flights. He dismissed claims the airline is laying off employees.
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Andrew Meldrum and Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg and Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia contributed,
In this photo taken Friday, April 3, 2020, masked medical staff walk outside the St. Augustines Hospital in Durban, South Africa. More than 60 people at the hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 with anxiety rising among health workers over the shortage of protective gear both in South Africa and across the African continent as cases are now above 10,000. The virus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo)
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South African civil servants assist informal vendors to receive temporary working licenses, at the entrance of a municipal office building, in Johannesburg, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
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An informal vendor fills out paperwork to be granted a temporary working license, at the entrance of a municipal office building, in Johannesburg, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
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Informal vendors line up to receive temporary working licenses, at the entrance of a municipal office building, in Johannesburg, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
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Informal vendors refused temporary working licenses speak to each other, in Johannesburg Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
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Children look out from a security gate of their flat, during a lockdown to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
The Associated Press
Children look out from a security gate of their flat, during a lockdown to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
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Residents stand on a balcony as a South African National Defence Forces vehicle patrol the street, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
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A Kenyan police officer speaks to people at a road block along Mombasa Road after vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos were turned away, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
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A Kenyan police officer speaks to people at a road block along Mombasa Road after vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos were turned away, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
The Associated Press
A Kenyan police officer at a road block along Mombasa Road stops vehicles traveling to Mombasa and Machakos, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Kenya increased its restrictions to combat the coronavirus, announcing travel bans into and out of the capital city, Nairobi, the port of Mombasa and two counties. More than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
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Zimbabwe riot police patrol the streets near a fruit and vegetable market full of people despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
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Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
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Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
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Hundreds of people buy goods at a fruit and vegetable market, despite a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday April 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
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A South African woman rests on a wall after being denied her informal vendor's permit in Johannesburg, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. South Africa and more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
The Associated Press
U.S. citizens queue to check in and be repatriated aboard an evacuation flight arranged by the U.S. embassy and chartered with Delta Air Lines, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria Tuesday, April 7, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The Associated Press
Nigerian aviation workers wear protective clothing as U.S. citizens queue to check in and be repatriated aboard an evacuation flight arranged by the U.S. embassy and chartered with Delta Air Lines, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria Tuesday, April 7, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The Associated Press
U.S. citizens queue to check in and be repatriated aboard an evacuation flight arranged by the U.S. embassy and chartered with Delta Air Lines, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria Tuesday, April 7, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The Associated Press
U.S. citizens queue to check in and be repatriated aboard an evacuation flight arranged by the U.S. embassy and chartered with Delta Air Lines, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria Tuesday, April 7, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Friday, April 3, 2020, masked medical staff walk outside the St. Augustines Hospital in Durban, South Africa. More than 60 people at the hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 with anxiety rising among health workers over the shortage of protective gear both in South Africa and across the African continent as cases are now above 10,000. The virus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.(AP Photo)
The Associated Press