KAROO NEWS - Since the beginning of the pandemic, accurate and current information on the number of cases of Covid-19 in the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality has been difficult to obtain, with many criticising the municipality and local media for not sharing information.

Stigma seems to be attached to those who have caught the virus and very few of the patients have been prepared to be identified, leaving the only permissible source of information the Department of Health (DOH).

Local officials will not divulge information and all media queries are directed to the Eastern Cape Department of Health Communications Officer, Siyana Manana in Bhisho, who is responsible for the whole province.

In March, when the first case was recorded it took three days to get a response from Manana, and official confirmation on recent cases has been impossible to obtain.

Statistics issued by the province on 21 June show over 15 000 cases in the Eastern Cape, over 600 of which are in the Sarah Baartman district.

The local Joint Operation Committee (JOC), established by the municipality in March, meets every week and the local Department of Health representative usually, but not always, gives updated statistics on Covid-19 patients.

Acting Municipal Spokesperson, Edwardine Abader, explained that she does not have access to any details regarding processes at the DOH, nor does the mayor. "We only get updated with statistics and publish these once confirmed - details can only be provided by the DOH," she said.

Members of the community are frustrated at the lack of information available and the official statistics are often not consistent.

For example, the Willowmore Hospital CEO stated on 10 June that the town had 24 confirmed cases, but according to the report from the DOH on 19 June, the town had 22. Nine confirmed cases are given for Aberdeen in the latest information, but at least 11 are known to the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser, confirmed by family or friends of the patients.

The 19 June statistics also give only two deaths in Graaff-Reinet, but this is disputed by many locals. Despite numerous calls to Manana, no response has been received.

"The community needs to be kept informed about the number of cases in our towns," said Graaff-Reinet resident Natalie Anthony. "Why doesn't the municipality have a spokesperson for health who will tell us what is going on?"

'We bring you the latest Karoo news'