LIMPOPO – The Limpopo Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, confirmed today that 104 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the past four days at the Beitbridge Border Post.
The border post experienced huge volumes of people trying to enter South Africa since December 2020. The Department of Home Affairs at the time announced that 160 officials will be deployed at the border post, to process returning travellers until 14 January.
Issues hit the post particularly hard towards the end of last year, as the annual influx of travellers to and from Zimbabwe, coupled with trucks needing to pass through, were delayed even further due to Covid-19 testing and screening.
The Department of Health, via its Port Health unit, deployed additional Port Health officials to all ports of entry to ensure that only travellers with a valid PCR test are allowed into the country. “Alternatively, those without a PCR test will be subjected to a rapid anti-gent tests at the port of entry at their own cost. South Africa will not allow any traveller into the country without a valid PCR test or the ANTI-GEN test for Covid-19. Only truck drivers are exempted from this test requirements as it was the case at the beginning of the lockdown. Any other traveller is warned once more that they will never be allowed in the country without producing the authentic tests,” the department said in an earlier statement.
Also read: SANDF stepping up the fight against illegal crossings from Zimbabwe
“Due to the congestion [experienced at the border], there was no adherence to social distancing and no wearing of masks. We call upon all who were there to self-quarantine for at least five to seven days, as well as avoid interaction with others, even if their results are negative,” the MEC tweeted.
104 people tested +ve for COVID 19 at the Beitbridge border in the past 4days.Due 2 congestion there was no social distance & no wearing of mask. We call upon all who were there 2 self quarantine at least 5 to 7 days and avoid interaction with others even if their results are -ve
— Dr Phophi Ramathuba (@PhophiRamathuba) January 7, 2021
The MEC said in a statement that the department is worried that the events at the border are fast becoming a super-spreader of the virus. “Thousands of people are stuck at the port for days while waiting for their entry into the country to be processed. Considering the incubation period of the virus, we wish to implore those who will be crossing from Beitbridge, to do the right thing and self-quarantine because they have been exposed to a potential super-spreader,” she said.
#Beitbridge was trending on Twitter, with users requesting politicians and authorities to intervene to help improve the current situation at the border post.
Whats happening at the BEITBRIDGE BOARDER is heart breaking ???? We sincerely ask @PresidencyZA to have mercy and OPEN BORDERS for our Documented people to cross ????????its all because of #ZANUPFPANDEMIC #OPENBORDERS saze sathwala nzima isizwe SAKITHI @zapu_w @zapuusa @ToZapu pic.twitter.com/tM8Xo4nyjV
— ZAPU YOUTH FRONT (JHB REGION) (@ZapuJhb) January 7, 2021
Meanwhile, the Limpopo Health Department earlier today announced that the province’s daily recorded Covid-19 cases hit a record high. A total of 1 575 new positive Covid-19 cases were recorded in the last 24-hours, the highest ever figure to be recorded in a 24-hour reporting cycle since the first case reported in the province.
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