The Eastern Cape Government is concerned a second wave of COVID-19 may be imminent in the province following a rise in the infection rate in some regions, like the Joe Gqabi District. The virus is reportedly spreading at an alarming rate in multiple Eastern Cape schools.
A reported 102 schoolchildren tested positive for the virus at a school in Burgersdorp and the number of infections in the region continues to rise, with a spike being reported at schools in Middelburg, Cradock and Sterkspruit.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba described the new wave as “fires that are spreading fast” at a media briefing on Tuesday, 29 September.
At the briefing, Gomba also announced that the 102 pupils from the Burgersdorp school had recovered but the virus had spread to four more schools in the town.
“We have also reported that 26 learners and 25 community members in Middelburg have tested positive. We are happy to announce that all these learners have recovered, but sadly we have lost an educator and a community member who both succumbed to the pandemic,” Gomba said.
Since Gomba’s briefing, 125 people tested positive for the virus and the number of active cases in the Eastern Cape stands at 1506. The death toll increased by 3 and stands at 3124.
South Africa recorded 1767 new coronavirus cases, according to the latest report released by health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday, 30 September. Prior to this report, SA had recorded less than 1000 new cases for two consecutive days.
The increase brings the total number of infections to 674 339, while the death toll increases to 16 734, after 67 more deaths were recorded in five provinces. Three people died in the Eastern Cape, 37 in KwaZulu-Natal, 11 in Gauteng, 9 in the Western Cape and 7 from the Free State.
Our recoveries now stand at 608 112 which translates to a recovery rate of 90%
Picture: GCIS
