COVID-19 cases spike in eMalahleni

This upcoming week will hit the 10th week since the nationwide lockdown was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa and with it, eMalahleni’s statistics on positive COVID-19 cases also spiked.

This is concerning as eMalahleni has the highest number of positive cases in Mpumalanga to date.

According to Mpumalanga’s Health Department, the total positive cases of the COVID-19 virus in eMalahleni are standing on 53 of which there are only nine recoveries so far.

WITBANK NEWS approached the spokesperson from the department, Mr Dumisane Malamule about these concerns and to point out the hotspots in eMalahleni.

But, it seems as if the department shies away from revealing the hotspots and the accurate confirmed number of cases in eMalahleni. “Unfortunately that is information which can not be provided due to stigmatisation,” said Malamule.

The most recent spike in cases was at Glencore Goedgevonden Mine as nine employees, of which seven are linked via contact tracing and two are unrelated isolated exposures, at GGV in Witbank, Mpumalanga has tested positive for COVID–19.

“The company has identified the primary contacts of these employees. Further contact tracing and screening are being conducted to determine the impact. All outstanding tests are being prioritized. We are also working closely with the District Health Officials on further contact tracing and screening at the Complex to address and contain the situation to protect our employees and community members. The employees will continue with counselling and emotional support provided through the Company’s social partner, reaction. The Department of Health, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Unions and the Minerals Council of South Africa has been informed and the Company is working closely with the District Health Officials to manage the situation,” a spokesperson for Glencore, Ms Shivani Chetram said in an official statement.

 

Another case of this virus came to light when a resident of eMalahleni stated on social media that a teacher from Witbank Primary tested positive for COVID-19 and made a list of precautions that this school is implementing before opening their doors again. This statement could however not be confirmed with the school or the Health Department. Witbank Police Communication Officer, Capt Eddie Hall did however confirmed that the school is closed due to a virus case.

On June 14 another case emerged at a local primary school. The parents of learners in Laerskool Klipfontein were informed about a Grade 7 learner who has tested positive for this virus and immediately started the testing and procedures.

 “The School Governing Body (SGB) and School Management Team (SMT) of Laerskool Klipfontein hereby confirm and inform parents and the public of the case of a Grade 7 learner that contracted the Covid-19 virus outside of the school and did test positive for Covid-19. We have given our full support to the learner and the family in dealing with this traumatic life-changing experience as well as our other learners and their parents. On the receiving of the results the learner, Sunday, June 14 the SGB and SMT followed the stipulated required steps to immediately inform the relevant impacted learners and their parents. Before the test the learner was requested to self-isolation at home, on Thursday, June 11 and did not attend school on Friday, June 12 thus limiting any further exposure to and by any learner and staff. We were also in contact with the Department of Education, the Department of Health and NICD to ensure we have followed all the protocols to ensure the safety of learners and teachers at the school was done,” Mr Anthonie Brits, SGB Chairperson and Ms Marinda Fourie, Acting Principal on behalf of Laerskool Klipfontein stated in their official media statement.

 

READ THE FULL MEDIA STATEMENT FROM LAERSKOOL KLIPFONTEIN:

• According to the Mpumalanga Department of Health most updated stats on June 18, the total positive COVID-19 cases in eMalahleni is standing on 81.