Light at end of Western Cape Covid-19 tunnel: Groote Schuur’s Dr Ross Hofmeyr

The Western Cape was hit the hardest when Covid-19 first appeared in South Africa. As of Thursday 16 July, 25% of all Covid-19 cases were reported in the province. More than 2,500 people have died in the Western Cape of the disease since the start of the year, which is significantly higher than in Gauteng where less than 1,000 have Covid-19 on their death certificates. Gauteng recently overtook the Western Cape for the rate of infections. Dr Ross Hofmeyr, an associate professor at the University of Cape Town who works at Groote Schuur Hospital, tells BizNews founder Alec Hogg that he is cautiously optimistic that the worst might be over for the area. – Editor

Dr Ross Hofmeyr is back with us after a three month or so adjourn. He is an associate professor at UCT, Department of Anaesthesia, and works at the Groote Schuur Hospital and has had a very interesting three months. When we spoke in April, you were preparing. That preparation presumably stood you in very good stead in recent times.

Feels like it's been a lot longer than three months and it's certainly been a very busy time. I think the preparations that we had been making when we last spoke, as you say, you have stood us in good stead. We've definitely learnt lessons along the way. We have the somewhat dubious privilege of being able to learn from those who had gone before us, particularly overseas. Hopefully, we in the Western Cape and Groote Schuur are able to hand on some of the lessons that we've learnt to other hospitals around the country.

___STEADY_PAYWALL___