Graaff-Reinet a Covid-hotspot

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - As of 21 November, 14 areas in the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality have been identified as Covid-19 hotspots.

Hotspot areas are generally geographic areas with many reported cases of Covid-19. The municipality had 517 active cases — the most cases recorded in the municipal district since the outbreak of Covid-19. In total, the municipal district has recorded 2,209 cases, of which 1,643 have recovered.

The hotspot areas are Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen, Asherville, Geluksdal, Jansenville, Klipplaat, Kroonvale, Lotusville, Santaville, Selfbou, Steytlerville, Thembalesizwe, Umasizakhe and Willowmore.

"Residents are urged to continue practising regulations put in place," the municipality said in a statement on 21 November. "Please wear a mask, wash your hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer, and maintain social distancing."

According to Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Siyanda Manana, 1,313 cases were reported across the Eastern Cape over 24-hours on 23 November. His statement read that 26 deaths were also reported, bringing the total number of Covid-19-related deaths in the province to 4,379.

Worrisome to local communities is that 80,9% of active cases reported in the province were from the Sarah Baartman District and the Nelson Mandela Bay municipal area. Five districts in the province reported high numbers of Covid-19 cases, of which Sarah Baartman was also one.

The rest include Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Chris Hani, Amathole and Blue Crane Route Local Municipality.

According to the statement released by Manana, key issues such as Covid-19 surveillance and contact tracing in the province need improvement. "Positive cases also urgently need to be isolated," the statement read.