North West records its first death due to Covid-19

A 52-year-old man from the Rustenburg area is the first person in the North West province to die from Covid-19, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Monday, according to a report by Netwerk24.

“The man had severe breathing problems, and also suffered from high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic lung disease,” Tebogo Lekgethwane, spokesperson for North West’s health department, said to Netwerk24 on Tuesday morning. 

Researchers in China and the United States have analysed the records of individuals who die of Covid-19 and found that most of them are older males with underlying chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and shortness of breath. 

“We hope that this study conveys the seriousness of Covid-19 and emphasises the risk groups of males over 50 with chronic comorbidities, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and diabetes,” the team of investigators said to Medical News Today.

Among the other complications that the patients in this study experienced while hospitalised with Covid-19, were respiratory failure, shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and irregular heartbeat.

Netwerk24 reported that the North West’s health department extended its condolences to the man’s family and thanked the health workers who treated him.

The number of confirmed cases in North West as of Monday evening was 50, with 21 cases in Rustenburg, 13 cases in the Brits-area, seven cases from Klerksdorp, four in Potchefstroom, three in Mahikeng, one in Moretele and one in Bloemhof. Out of the 50 cases in the province, 24 people have fully recovered.