Five Covid-19 positive cases at AbaQulusi Municipality

Lolo Madonsela

Five positive Covid-19 cases have been found at AbaQulusi Local Municipality following the testing of its management, staff and councillors last week.
The municipality had on Monday tested corporate services and finance departments, and was yet to test technical services, EPWP and community during the course of this week. Municipal Manager Bonga Ntanzi confirmed that five people have tested positive, but said that consolidated stats will be given after all departments have been tested.
“So far, we have five positive cases, even though one case is one too many. However, these results so far are not as alarming as we had anticipated and we are grateful for that. The numbers may rise, as more staff members are yet to be tested, but we are hopeful that the numbers will remain low.
“This is a very strenuous process, but it has to be done in order to protect each other and the community at large. We understand that people are now faced with epidemic fatigue, but we need to continue instilling lockdown regulations, which are social distancing, wearing of masks and hand sanitizing. We still need to be vigilant,” said Ntanzi.
Other reported positive cases in Vryheid were at Cash & Carry and Checkers, while Steers was still awaiting results from three suspected cases. Steers was ordered not to allow walk-in customers, as they may be at risk of being infected. Cash &Carry and Checkers were temporarily closed to allow for disinfection and deep cleaning, and they have since re-opened after being given the green light by the Department of Labour.
Vryheid, eMondlo and Gluckstadt police stations were closed temporarily due to positive Covid-19 cases, while Hlobane police station was awaiting results of two suspected cases.

Also read: AbaQulusi conducts mass Covid-19 testing

SASSA and Social Development offices were also closed due to Covid-19 positive cases and by last week Monday, there were nine confirmed positive cases of health officials at Vryheid Hospital.
As at Monday, July 6, Zululand District had 276 confirmed Covid-19 positive cases, two deaths and 43 recoveries. In her budget speech, MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu said that the department had entered into an agreement with a few hotels, B&Bs and resorts, which will give the department more than 4000 beds as and when needed.
“In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and in light of the staffing challenges we have had, we have added staff to the facilities where we are creating additional bed capacity and in the facilities where we have created field hospitals and temporary structures. We have started hiring 8893 people, who are going to be employed in the following categories: professional nurses – 4804 staff nurses – 3064 speciality nurses – 151 ward clerks – 284 general orderlies. We are going to translate 1030 enrolled nurses into professional nurses. This is a good opportunity, because some of these nurses had been professional nurses since 2011 but could afford to translate them due to financial constraints. This process is expected to cost the department about R1.2 billion, which is money we previously did not have. We expect to make these appointments from Monday onward,” she stated.

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