Covid-19: Rising numbers in these districts a concern
Fezile Dabi district had a total of 9 300 confirmed positive Covid-19 cases on 19 January
The Thabo Mofutsanya and Fezile Dabi districts are now the new focal points as their numbers are increasing drastically. Fezile Dabi includes the towns of Sasolburg, Deneysville, Oranjeville, Kroonstad, Viljoenskroon, Steynsrus, Parys, Heilbron, Koppies, Edenville, Vredefort, Frankfort, Villiers and Cornelia). Gazette previously reported on concern about rising numbers in specifically Sasolburg, Kroonstad, Koppies and Heilbron, all forming part of the Fezile Dabi district.
As on 19 January Fezile Dabi had a total of 9 300 confimed positive Covid-19 cases, of which Moqhaka had the highest figure on the 19th with 3237 cases, and Metsimaholo not far behind with 3180. Ngwathe’s (Parys, Vredefort, Heilbron, Edenville and Koppies) total figure then was 2 090. The situation was exacerbated by cluster outbreaks at some boarding schools around the district, residents who are migrant laborers working in other provinces. and the Free State’s proximity to other provinces.
But to put it in perspective Manguang Metro (Bloemfontein, Botchabelo, ThabaNchu and Naledi) had 30 677 infections as on 18 January with Bloemfontein standing on 23 938. Lejweleputswa District had 14 150 cases and Thabo Mofutsanyana 12 684 cases. Xhariep District had 4001 cases on 18 January.
At a media briefing yesterday (Wednesday 20 January), the Free State MEC for Health, Montseng Tsiu said that the Free State province on 18 January had a total of 70 891 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with a recovery rate of 84%, and 2 473 deaths recorded in the province on 18 January.
She added that the province is thus far not experiencing any callenges with PPE’s, but remain on alert to avoid depletions or shortages. Together with Labour Unions the Feee State Department of Health are monitoring the situation.
The population group of between 30-34 years remains the most vulnerable.
Prevalence among the under 20 years age group is 12% with the median (IQR) age of cumulative Covid-19 cases 40 (29-53 years). More females (60%) in the provinces are infected according to statistics, and the majority of deaths in the province seems to be in the age group 45 years and above.
43% of deaths are recorded among males.
Health workers
In the Free State province 50 health workers in the public sector and 3 in the private sector had died so far as on 18 January.
