The
Nelson Mandela Bay COVID-19 Joint Operating Centre (JOC) has noted with concern
the growth in the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the city.
During
a JOC meeting today, May 3, the Department of Health indicated that
positive cases were steadily climbing, with 819 active cases currently
recorded.
NMBM
Public Health MMC, Thsonono
Buyeye, said that while the numbers were still low, it was worth noting that the cases are
increasing and going in the wrong direction.
“On April 24, 2022, we had 530 active cases and today we are told that 819 cases
have been recorded in our city. The responsibility rests fully on all of us to
keep the cases low, as the state of disaster is also no longer in place and
therefore the law enforcement agencies are no longer policing people,” Buyeye said.
“About
44% of our population in the city has been vaccinated. This is still low
and we make a serious appeal to our residents to take the opportunity to
protect themselves against the deadly virus, as unvaccinated people are at a
higher risk of death and hospitalisation.
There is still a need to increase our vaccination rate to achieve herd
immunity, which can protect us against any future waves of infection. The
country is on high alert for a fifth wave right now, but we are all hoping that
if the wave materialises,
it will follow the controllable trend of the fourth wave,” he added.
NMBM
Disaster Management Head, Shane Brown, said that there was concern about
infections at schools, as many learners remained unvaccinated.
“We
are closely monitoring the situation, as is the rest of the country, as cases
are increasing everywhere right now. The number of patients in hospitals is
still low, with only 14 patients admitted to government hospitals for now and
no patients in Intensive Care Units,
both in government and private hospitals. We want to caution our residents to
be vigilant and get vaccinated, as it
is the only way in which we can protect ourselves against another deadly wave,”
Brown said.
