South Africa endures coronavirus crisis as health services collapse – BBC News

Chronic failures in the health system of South Africa’s Eastern Cape have been exposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Key staff are on strike or sick with Covid-19 and there are reports of unborn babies dying in overcrowded, understaffed wards.

A BBC investigation found exhausted doctors and nurses who say the province’s health system has collapsed under the strain. One doctor called it an “epic failure of a deeply corrupt system”.

After initially controlling the virus South Africa is experiencing a sharp rise in infections – currently more than 10,000 new cases a day.

Huw Edwards presents BBC News at Ten reporting from Andrew Harding in Port Elizabeth.

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