AN alarming number of COVID-19 positive cases has been recorded in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole with more than 2 500 active cases recorded on Monday, November 1.
New statistics show that currently the metropole has eight COVID-19 hotspots led by Motherwell with 416 active cases. In Uitenhage 319 cases have been recorded, KwaZakhele has 137 cases, KwaNobuhle has 133 cases, Walmer has 132, Bethelsdorp follows with 128, in Zwide there are 104 cases and Despatch has 102 cases.
This has raised concerns with Acting Mayor Councillor Thsonono Buyeye warning residents that if the second wave gets out of control, stricter measures will need to be taken to save lives.
“A harder lockdown is not ideal but to save lives, the option might need to be explored again as the numbers are increasing rapidly,” said Buyeye.
“The only reason we are battling a second wave now is non-compliance. People are not complying. At businesses, restaurants and social gatherings, people have thrown away their masks thinking that the virus is over.
“We are not happy at all with the current picture. We are warning residents that the second wave could be more deadly than the first wave if they do not change their ways.”
NMBM Disaster Management Chairperson Shane Brown said behavioural change was needed now more than ever as we are heading towards the festive season.
Restaurants, shopping centres and businesses are not complying
“We would like to warn our residents that should the numbers continue to rise, President Cyril Ramaphosa will have no choice but to enforce stricter measures,” said Brown.
“People are infecting each other; we are heading towards the festive season and all around the world no one has experience on how to deal with this virus during the festive season.
“During the last festive season, it was only China that had COVID-19 cases. We are faced with a crisis. We urge residents to stick to the regulations.
“Restaurants, shopping centres and businesses are not complying, we have engaged them, and we will continue to preach compliance messages as this virus is better managed through preventative measures,” Brown added.
“The police together with the metro police successfully closed down some non-complying establishments where residents gathered over the weekend.
“Perhaps we need to remind residents that there is still a curfew in line with Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations, between midnight (00:00) and 04:00.
“We do not want a harder lockdown, but if this trend persists, we might be heading in that direction to save lives,” Brown concluded.
(Issued: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Communications Office)
