Health MEC urges safer habits, saying citizens are moving the virus
The virus is now mainly spread among residents and in the communities, and no longer through cluster outbreaks, and it is becoming harder to pinpoint the point of origin.
POLOKWANE – The MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba says the rise in Covid-19 cases in Limpopo can be ascribed to community spread.
Covid-19 cases in Polokwane have surpassed the 500-mark and the rate of infection has been at an average of 65 new cases in the city, daily, over the past week. The province currently has over 2 100 active cases with over 1 500 recoveries and 42 deaths recorded as of 16 July.
“It is no longer about cluster outbreaks in one specific area as cases have now spread out throughout the community. We dealt with cluster outbreaks at several mines, but it is no longer the case. People are contracting the virus without even knowing it and they continue to spread it unknowingly. It is now happening to ordinary citizens, and not only where people are concentrated for a specific reason such as work,” she told the media.
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Community spread means the virus is everywhere, she said, including at taxi ranks, shopping centres and malls. “This makes it even more difficult to pinpoint the origin of an active case as the patient could have contracted it anywhere. “Previously it was easier to deal with, because we knew it was a mine or a police station, but now it is almost impossible.”
She added that it has not yet been determined if patients who have contracted the virus and recovered, have develop an immunity to it. “The nature of a virus usually means that once you contract and fight it off, your body creates antibodies to indicate that you have recovered. This could, however, not be established with this virus up to date.” She explained that there was a case in Kwa Zulu-Natal where a woman had contracted and recovered from Covid-19 but was later re-infected. She said the infection and how it is experienced differ from one patient to the next.
Ramathuba says one should always be cautious of Covid-19, and practise all safety precautions such as sanitising regularly, wearing a face mask and practising social distancing. “Remember the virus does not move, we move it,” she said.
