48 die in just ten days
In the first ten days of January, 48 people have died from Covid-19-related symptoms at MediClinic Tzaneen.
Dr Ig van Rensburg of Mediclinic Tzaneen and local doctor, told Herald that health workers are exhausted.
“It is very discouraging when we see people going on as if it this not real.
However, health workers are grateful for the support and gestures of goodwill from members of the public.”
Van Rensburg said that from 1 to 10 January 111 people with Covid were admitted to Mediclinic.
He said that in December they admitted 113 Covid patients of which ten passed away.
Also read: Tzaneen coronavirus patient welcomed back into society
During the first wave of the pandemic, from March to 1 December last year, Mediclinic Tzaneen treated 307 Covid patients of which 30 died.
Van Rensburg said they have noted that the new wave of patients are younger than in the first wave.
“We have no idea how long this wave is going to last and what extent it is going to take on,” he said.
It is not known how many patients have been hospitalised in the provincial hospitals in the area.
Limpopo’s Department of Health statistics show that infections in the Greater Tzaneen area have increased from 1167 at the beginning of December to 2538 on Monday, 11 January, of which 679 are active cases.
Greater Tzaneen has been put on high alert by the department. Meanwhile, the Limpopo’s Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, has attributed the rapid rise in infections to inter-provincial travellers during the festive season, as well as sports and social gatherings.
Also read: Health department says Tzaneen is on Covid-19 high alert
She said the increase in numbers is concerning considering that during the beginning of December, the province only recorded around 20 cases per 24 hour counting cycle.
“We are now paying the price of social gatherings and parties which we have seen during the month of December.
We have advised that any kind of gathering during the festives was a bad idea also considering that we have people who came from other provinces to attend gatherings.
Ramathuba called on community members to act more responsibly.
“As the virus attacks indiscriminately during this second wave, we need to see real behavior change from our people in order to make a real difference,” added Ramathuba.
