Preliminary COVID-19 probe shows St Augustine's possibly didn't follow protocol

Sixty-six people at the facility, 48 of them healthcare workers, have tested positive for the coronavirus. 

This, after four patients, admitted to the hospital with the virus, died. 

MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu says they have ordered an in-depth investigation to find out what happened at the Berea-based facility. 

"Once we have received a proper investigation as the Department of Health, then we are going to go through the proper legal channels and follow them. If there is anyone who should be held to account we will not at any given time hesitate to make sure that people are called to account. But we don't want to jump processes - and we are following."

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KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala says they have asked hospital management for a detailed report on how COVID-19 cases are being handled. 

"We are responding to the developing crisis, and we are not as yet sitting in judgement. We don't want to conclude, we are looking and still observing what happened, and we had said that let there be further investigation on the matter." 

Out of 1 900 staff at the hospital,  735 have been tested so far. 

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Netcare says about 500 of them have tested negative, the results of 318 people are still outstanding. 

It says it currently has 15 patients who came to the hospital to be treated for COVID-19.