LIMPOPO – Since the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the province, another 155 664 people have tested positive for the virus. Thus far, 150 963 of the people have recovered while 4 574 have passed away. Marking two years with Covid-19 in the province, Review decided to look back on notable events since then.

The Pietersburg Provincial Hospital opens an isolation ward

Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba visited the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital on 4 February, to inspect the hospital’s new isolation ward for the feared Coronavirus.

Read more: [WATCH] How prepared is Polokwane for the coronavirus?

Coronavirus: Repatriated SA citizens land in Polokwane

Over 100 South African citizens, who were evacuated from Wuhan following the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, touched down at the Gateway Airport on 14 March 2020. The Ranch Resort outside of the city was earlier identified as a quarantine proximity point.

Read more: Coronavirus: Repatriated SA citizens land in Polokwane

Also read: Coronavirus: Ranch Resort Polokwane identified as quarantine point

The first case:

Ramathuba confirmed on Monday, 16 March 2020, that a 28-year-old male doctor from Limpopo tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) and had gone into self-quarantine.

Read more: [WATCH] Coronavirus: 1st case in Limpopo ‘imported’

South Africa moves into lockdown

On 23 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would move into a lockdown for 21 days from midnight on 26 March. Review gathered footage of residents adhering to the president’s call to stay home on the first day of the nationwide lockdown. At the time, the National Department of Health confirmed that Covid-19 cases in the country had exceeded the 1 000-mark, with two official deaths.

Read more: [WATCH] Polokwane locals adhere to #21DaysLockdownSA

Also read: [WATCH] #Day1 Lockdown in Mokopane

Two Limpopo MEC’s had to self-quarantine

The MEC for Education, Polly Boshielo and the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Thandi Moraka were in contact with Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Molokwane, who tested positive for Covid-19. They subsequently self-quarantined from 25 March 2020.

Read more: Covid-19: Limpopo MEC’s in self-quarantine

Limpopo’s Patient Zero makes full Covid-19 recovery

The province’s first person to have tested positive for the Coronavirus, a 28-year-old medical doctor, made a full recovery on 30 March 2020. The Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba applauded the doctor for the self-discipline he showed as he went into self-quarantine upon returning from a trip to Europe. At the time, Limpopo had 13 positive cases of Covid-19, including the recovery case.

Limpopo’s first hospital admission

A 55-year-old man, who had travelled to Nigeria, was recorded as Limpopo’s first Covid-19 positive hospital admission on 1 April. The Limpopo Health Department confirmed that the man was admitted after presenting mild to severe symptoms while in isolation at the provincial MDR facility.

Read more: Covid-19 positive man (55) Limpopo’s first hospital admission

Covid-19 screenings kicked off at Limpopo homes

Household screening for Covid-19 started in the province on 14 April.

Read more here. 

The first death of Covid-19 in the province was recorded

On 17 April 2020, a 69-year-old man was the first person to succumb to Covid-19 in Limpopo. The man, whose wife also tested positive, was a patient at the Netcare Phološo Hospital in Polokwane. Action taken by the hospital resulted in one staff member subsequently testing positive.

A further 11 staff members, as agreed with the Department of Health, were placed in self-isolation. They were all asymptomatic. Ten of these staff members quarantined at a hotel in Polokwane at the expense of Netcare as they were unable to effectively self-quarantine at home. One opted to self-isolate at home.

Read more: Limpopo records 1st Covid-19 death

Polokwane restaurants joined the ‘Million Seats on the Streets’ protest

The local restaurant industry joined a nationwide silent protest on 22 July 2020, to highlight the massive impact of Covid-19 lockdown regulations on the industry. The sector was closed from the start of the hard lockdown in late March 2020 up to the end of May, and since June, was allowed to operate at limited capacity, with lockdown restrictions not allowing for on-site consumption of alcohol.

Watch more videos of local restaurant owners here.

Other industries followed suit…

Placards with the hashtags #GymSavesLivesSA, #OpenOurGyms and #JobsSaveLives were seen outside of Body Life Polokwane on 5 August 2020, in support of the national protest by gym owners, employees and members. The peaceful demonstrations ran from 12:00 to 14:00 and one of the facilities participating was Body Life Polokwane.

Read more: [WATCH] Locals come out in support to have gyms opened

Fusion Boutique Hotel was lit red on Wednesday, 5 August to highlight the plight of the live entertainment industry. The industry was, at the time, shut down for five months and South Africans were asked to take part in the #LightSAred movement and simultaneously light up their homes and buildings in red to draw attention to this fight for survival.

Read more: Fusion Boutique Hotel lights up for live entertainment

Illicit cigarettes, illicit cigarettes and more illicit cigarettes

Following the ban on tobacco sales by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the illicit cigarette trade boomed. Multiple arrests were made by police for people found in possession or trading of illicit cigarettes. One of the standout stories was done on 23 July 2020, when Review published an article which provides a closer look into how illicit cigarettes find its way into South Africa. Everything from the source, the risks, the routes and the profits was explained.

Read more: ‘The illegality starts at Beitbridge’

2 Limpopo doctors died from Covid-19 related complications

On 14 August 2020, two general practitioners from Limpopo passed away due to Covid-19 related complications. The Limpopo Department of Health Spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana said the doctors, aged 47 and 57 respectively, were the first cases of healthcare workers to die of Covid-19 related complications in the province.

Read the story here.

Limpopo Covid-19 cases surpassed the 15 000 mark

By 27 September 2020, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the province was 15 135, of which 510 cases were active.

Cases continued to climb

By 28 December 2020, the province already had 22 624 Covid-19 cases. The Limpopo Health Department’s statistics at the time indicated that 544 people had passed away.

Capricorn district saw the most arrests for non-compliance with the Disaster Management Act

A total of 1 120 people were arrested in Limpopo during a multidisciplinary joint operation which was conducted simultaneously in all districts of the province.

Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe explained that the Capricorn district saw the most arrests (364), followed by Vhembe (291). A total of 226 suspects were arrested in the Waterberg district, 139 suspects in the Mopani district and 100 in Sekhukhune. “The contraventions included failing to wear masks in public spaces, prohibited liquor trade and non-compliance with the curfew period.”

Read more here.

Limpopo’s daily recorded Covid-19 cases hit a record high

The Limpopo Health Department noted with concern that on 7 January, the province recorded a total of 1 575 positive cases. This was a sharp increase from the 932 cases reported on 6 January.

“These escalating figures paints a worrying picture of community members not following Covid-19 safety protocols during the recent festive season and we are now paying the price. As figures are rising exponentially, the department once again makes a clarion call to communities to act more responsibly during this difficult period,” Ramathuba said at the time.

Polokwane: Do you live in a hotspot area?

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases provided a detailed overview of positive cases per age group and area.

Read more here. 

Limpopo premier tells citizens to ‘not fear’ Covid-19 vaccine

“Don’t allow yourself to be intimated into opposing the upcoming Covid-19 vaccine programme.” This was the message from Limpopo Premier, Stanley Chupu Mathabatha, following the Covid-19 Provincial Command Council virtual meeting held on 13 January.

Read more here.

Indigenous herb trade booms in Limpopo

The informal trade in indigenous herbs for steaming purposes boomed in Limpopo as many people believe doing so reduces the chances of contracting Covid-19. Limpopo Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba had voiced her concern about the growing number of people buying indigenous herbs for steaming purposes.

Read more here.

Limpopo Covid-19 cases surpassed the 59 000 mark

The cumulative number of cases in the province by 7 February was 59 090. The Limpopo Health Department said of those cases, 1 701 were active at the time.

[WATCH] Health MEC and frontline workers vaccinated at Mankweng Hospital

The MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba was one of the first to take the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine at the Mankweng Hospital on Friday, 19 February, alongside more than 50 frontline workers.

Read more here. 

‘Beat the fear’ says Lim’s first vaccinated nurse

Acting Operations Manager in the Covid-19 Unit at the Mankweng Hospital, Granny Letoka was the first nurse to be vaccinated in the province.

Read more here. 

Health Dept responds to vaccination site complaints by Limpopo healthcare workers

The department responded to complaints by healthcare workers in the province, who had taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction over the vaccination sites the department announced on 3 March.

Read more here.

Limpopo Covid-19 cases near the 62 000 mark

The Health Department’s statistics on 5 March indicated that the cumulative number of cases in the province was at 61 777, of which 59 490 people have recovered.

Read more here.

Covid-19 cases increase amid possible third wave

On 12 March, Review reported that the country recorded an average of 1 088 new cases over the last five days.

Read more here.

[VIDEO] Limpopo Premier registers for Covid-19 vaccine, encourages others to follow suit

Premier Stan Mathabatha registered himself on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) at his residence at Tooseng Village, Lebowakgomo on April 21, 2021.

Read more here.

Covid-19 jabs: What patients can expect

Polokwane Observer visited the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital i May 2021 to follow the vaccination process of senior citizens 60 years and older.

Read more here.

[WATCH] Limpopo Premier, 1st lady get their Covid-19 jabs

Limpopo Premier Chupu Mathabatha and his first lady were among the first citizens, over the age of 60, to receive their Covid-19 vaccines.

Read more here. 

Limpopo residents ‘flock’ to Covid-19 vaccination sites, without registering

The number of residents who got to vaccination sites, without being registered, was a cause of concern for the provincial health department.

Read more here.

Covid-19: Third wave approaching in Limpopo

After a spike in Covid-19 cases as per a 24-hour reporting cycle, the Department of Health warned that a third wave was fast approaching in Limpopo.

Read more here.

Limpopo: More Covid-19 recoveries, but positivity rate skyrockets

While the Covid-19 vaccination rollout ran at a rapid rate, residents were warned to not drop the ball as the third wave seemed to not have reached its peak yet.

Read more here.

Covid-19 in Limpopo: Funeral parlours under immense pressure

The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the death-care industry. CV spoke to various funeral service providers in the Vhembe district about the challenges they currently face amid the third wave.

Read more here.

Limpopo Covid-19 vaccinations: One million…and counting

After administering one million vaccinations in the province in fewer than four months, Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba said her department was aiming to vaccinate 3,5 million citizens in the province before the end of 2021.

Read more here.

Fourth wave: Limpopo’s Covid-19 cases continue to climb

Limpopo held its breath as private and public health facilities all experienced an upward trend in positive infections in December 2021.

Read more here.

Covid-19 round-up: Vaccine manufacturing, talks on ending state of disaster, and testing decline

A newly launched vaccine manufacturing facility in Cape Town and calls to end the national state of disaster dominated Covid-19 news in January.

Read more here.

Covid-19 cases continue to decline as end of State of Disaster nears

The number of Covid-19 cases recorded in the province every 24 hours, are still relatively low in comparison to peak periods.

Read more here.

Limpopo’s latest statistics

According to the department’s latest statistics, as of Monday (March 21), the cumulative number of cases is 155 504. 

 

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