THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Acting Mayor, Councillor Thsonono Buyeye, has cautioned residents about the rapid spread of COVID-19 which has claimed many lives in the metro.
This comes after recent statistics highlighted the increase in COVID-19 cases in KwaZakhele.
Buyeye cautioned that with the rise in infections at KwaZakhele and KwaNobuhle, the metro’s health care system could collapse if residents did not change their worrying behaviour.
“Each one of us knows of someone who has been infected or died. It is no longer a virus that is far from us, we all know someone. COVID-19 is real. We are once again appealing to our residents to adhere to the safety measures as our city is a hotspot. We will not get tired of repeating the messages that we have been sending to them because at this moment there is no other prevention option,” said Buyeye.
COVID-19 Disaster Management Forum chairperson, Shane Brown, said, “While four areas seem to be the major hotspots at the moment, one must not take one’s eyes off from the entire map. We have learnt and seen that any area can fast develop into a hotspot, as this virus is spreading rapidly.”
Brown said that the danger is that some patients who are actually COVID-19 positive do not show symptoms and they can infect others, while some people do not quarantine after taking a test.
“They carry on as if nothing has happened and infect other people through these social gatherings that we have seen taking place with concern.”
He said the different interventions implemented by the metro including the community forums, showed that residents from Motherwell were now adhering to the safety measures.
“We are calling on residents everywhere to adhere to strict safety measures. Although your area might not be a hotspot today, things could change tomorrow if residents do not follow the safety measures. That is why we are appealing to every resident to take full responsibility for their lives and loved ones,” Brown said.
