During the course of the past seven to ten days the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the Metro have doubled, said Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber President, Dr Andrew Muir.
“We are seeing an uptick in the number of patients occupying hospital beds, particularly in private hospitals.”
Muir, who represents the Business Chamber on the Metro’s COVID-19 Command Council, expressed deep concern that the numbers were trending in the wrong direction.
“While we are seeing a spike and not a peak at this stage, as businesses we need to take heed and ensure that we are being vigilant in complying to the required regulations.”
He said that the Business Chamber had in recent weeks noted some complacency in terms of the levels of compliance by some businesses to the required regulations.
“We cannot blame government if this complacency results in more stricter regulations being imposed on us. We must do everything in our control to help contain the spread of the virus, thus ensuring that economic activities can continue at the current less stringent Alert Level 1.”
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and its members have been at the forefront of supporting the Covid-19 crisis response actions in the city. Key initiatives in this regard have included the spearheading of renovations to the Livingstone and Provincial hospitals, the creation of a field hospital, the donation of valuable safety equipment and other items to support frontline workers, as well as the the storage and distribution of critical medical supplies for the hospitals.
