In less than two weeks, nine nuns from the Assisi Convent in Port Shepstone have died of Covid-19.
They are Sisters Leonissa Nizamande FSF (78), Elmara Sikhakhane FSF (72), Colleta Msomi FSF (78), Annastasia Mthethwa FSF (86), Amara Madlala FSF (75), Edmunda Nkomo FSF (80), Helen Cele FSF (88), Mary Anthony Gebashe (72) and Virginia Didi (73).
The latest death occurred on Monday this week, with the first death being recorded on December 10.
Also, three more nuns have been hospitalised and nine others are in quarantine where they are being closely monitored.
“We are overwhelmed and traumatised. We have health and safety measures in place and have not been complacent,” said Sister Dominica Mkhize of the Assisi Convent which is based in Oshabeni location in Ward 4.
President of the The Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life of South Africa (LCCLSA), Sister Nkhensani Shibambu said “’it is a very painful reminder that the scourge of Covid-19 is yet to lessen its devastation to communities and society at large.”
“We send not only consolatory messages but also urge all religious congregations and communities to be be extra vigilant and cautious in light of the deadly and subtle second wave of the pandemic,” she said.
Sr Shibambu also reiterated that “we remain our very best defence against the virus and the least we can do is to continue adhering to the safety protocols of Covid-19 prevention.”
Premier Sihle Zikalala said that KwaZulu-Natal had recorded a number of clusters of the virus in health care settings, church gatherings, retail shops, funerals, ceremonies and parties.
“The recent cluster outbreaks in gatherings have proven to be fatal such as a church gathering that took place in Assisi Convent in Ugu District,” he said.
According to the premier, Ugu is among the five districts that is hardest hit in the province by the second wave. The other districts are eThekwini, iLembe, Umgungundlovu and Harry Gwala.
At the time of writing, Ugu had recorded nearly 7 700 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 168 deaths and had 4 593 recoveries.
Nationally, a cumulative total of over 930 000 cases had been identified and over 24 900 deaths recorded.
The recovery rate stood at 796 346.
While the country is still grappling with the second wave, the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize announced last week that a group of scientists had discovered a new coronavirus variant called 501.V2, which is spreading rapidly in the country.
According to Mkhize, this variant is seeing a larger proportion of younger patients with no comorbidities develop serious illness.
“The evidence that has been collated, therefore, strongly suggests that the current second wave we are experiencing is being driven by this new variant.”
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
