Remain vigilant, says health MEC

It has been six months now since government has been battling the virus with over 661 211 positive cases identified and over 15 953 deaths recorded countrywide.

In Mpumalanga alone, over 26 239 positive cases have been identified with 496 deaths registered.

The numbers are not what was earlier projected. Manzini believes this is due to people’s positive attitude and willingness to defeat the virus that the numbers are not as bad as earlier projections made them out to be.

“Since the president, Cyril Ramaphosa, declared the state of disaster and placed the country under lockdown, we have seen our people playing a bigger role in ensuring that they obey the lockdown regulations.

“We have seen people and different organisations adhering to the protocols and regulations. This really disrupted the spread of the virus.

Our people should honestly be recommended as they proved once again that united, we are stronger and we can defeat any enemy in front of us,” said Manzini. She, however, voiced her discomfort at certain trends, especially young people who are seen in groups and in public without face masks. “I am worried that people think that because we have been placed under lockdown level 1, Covid-19 is gone.

No, the virus is very much with us and active. The decision to ease the lockdown regulations is to help get our economy back on track and that doesn’t mean Covid-19 is gone.

“We must not drop the ball now and relax. If we are not careful, the virus may strike and strike hard. So, let us continue to take care of ourselves and always keep to the set health and safety regulations.

“Wearing face masks is still mandatory, and so is regular washing of hands and adhering to social distancing. It is really in our hands and so, let us continue to work with government and beat this virus,” appealed Manzini.