“SA has already been hit hard by the impact of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown declared by the government, but indications are the worst may still be to come for the Eastern Cape, even as it appears to be business as usual for most people on the streets of the metros,
towns and rural villages of the province.”
“Monday marks 80 days since “patient zero”, the first infection recorded in the province. Since then, 101 people have died.”
“The province may be tracking the high rate of infection of the Western Cape, doubling here every two to three days, about the same number of infections contracted in the Western Cape just before the death toll in that province started mounting.”
“This may have dire consequences for this province’s health care sector, given the impact so far on health services in the Western Cape, which has an infection rate of about 1,000 cases a day.”
“Already, patients visiting hospitals for trauma cases unrelated to Covid-19 are at risk of dying because health facilities are becoming overcrowded.”
“At the weekend, more cases of injuries as a result of intoxication, domestic violence, stabbings and gunshots were admitted at hospitals across the province.
There were also reports of people who have driven under the influence being involved in numerous vehicle accidents.”
There were also reports of people who have driven under the influence being involved in numerous vehicle accidents.”
“There are concerns that the relaxation of restrictions under level three of the lockdown regulations was the reason people were not adhering to strict measures, and the cause was the reselling of alcohol,
as some communities have seen masses of people hosting house parties this past weekend.”
“Comparisons with other provinces show that the EC’s rate of infection accelerated rapidly. While EC new infections were similar to those reported by Gauteng, that province performed more than four times as many tests in the same period.”
“In the final week of that period — May 17 to 23 — the Western Cape had 4,397 positive tests (proportional positives of 17.5%), the Eastern Cape 486 positive tests (8.8%), Gauteng 383 (1.8%) and KZN 241 (2.1%).”
“And the true number of cases could be a lot higher, with the NICD acknowledging that testing backlogs were a concern.”
“Several of the EC s largest public hospitals are in’apparent disarray and buckling under the pressure, with Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane closing three units after staff contracted the virus,
Frere Hospital in East London being issued with a closure over unsafe working conditions, patients being turned away at Livingstone and Provincial hospitals in Port Elizabeth over linen shortages
and the Motherwell Community Health Centre closing its doors after staff refused to work without adequate PPE gear.”
“Nurses at Life St Dominic’s Hospital in East London claimed that a shortage of beds had led the hospital to Covid-19 patients being forced to share hospital’s only casualty ward with patients who are there for other reasons.”
