365 days of Covid-19: Before herd immunity, doctors warn of third wave

As South Africa today marks a year since the first case of coronavirus was detected, doctors at the coalface of the pandemic have urged people not to be complacent.

On 5 March, 2020, a coronavirus-free South Africa was plunged into a state of panic when a 38-year-old man from Hilton, near Pietermaritzburg, returning from a holiday in Italy with his wife, tested positive.

At the time, over 2 500 cases and 79 deaths were reported in Italy, where the man and his party – among a group of 10 tourists – had spent their holiday.

Urging South Africans not to drop their guard under lockdown level 1, Dr Gilles van Cutsem of Doctors Without Borders and Steve Biko Academic Hospital specialist emergency physician Dr Vidya Laloo said the pandemic was far from being defeated.

Van Cutsem warned that the country could experience more waves of Covid-19 outbreaks “as long as the majority of the population is not vaccinated”.

“We can delay and prevent outbreaks with relatively simple prevention measures: physical distancing, facial mask wearing, avoiding gatherings, hand washing and early testing in case of symptoms.

“The health system can maintain rigorous symptom screening – triage and infection control in health facilities; and a sufficient oxygen capacity plan.

“We also need to introduce training of existing staff in the management of Covid-19, including higher care.

“There is also an urgent need to focus on recovering pre-coronavirus levels of care for other major diseases, such as HIV and TB [tuberculosis] testing and treatment; diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,” said Van Cutsem.

Asked whether there were any lessons learnt from the country’s experience in dealing with the virus, Laloo said: “I have learnt that it’s not rocket science avoiding this disease.

“Simple measures that we have been preaching, actually work.

“It has also been made very clear that, as South Africans, we struggle to be responsible with our alcohol use.

“The impact that the restrictions on alcohol have made to a number of trauma cases is impressive.”

While vaccinating, people should remember that “one can get mild Covid-19, even when vaccinated”. “The vaccine prevents severe Covid-19 cases and death,” said Laloo.

brians@citizen.co.za

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.