COVID-19 in the Free State

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Here’s why COVID-19 cases in the Free State are now causing concern

Just when we thought we could breathe a sigh of relief regarding COVID-19 infections, the Free State has been flagged for concern.

COVID-19 in the Free State

Image via: Adobe Stock

The Democratic Alliance (DA), on Tuesday, released a statement expressing its concern over the fact that the Free State has the second-highest active COVID-19 cases nationally. Given that the province has the second-lowest population in the country, there is now some uneasiness in the air. 

Just last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide move to Level 1 lockdown, citing decreasing COVID-19 infections, deaths and hospital admissions. As the country breathed a sigh of relief, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize issued a sentiment of “not so fast Mzansi”. He said there could be a possibility of a resurgence or a second wave especially now that the economy has opened even further. 

DA CONCERNED ABOUT ACTIVE COVID-19 CASES IN THE FREE STATE 

Whip of the Official Opposition in the Free State Legislature Mariette Pittaway said that as of 20 September, the Free State had 14 044 active cases, while Gauteng had the highest 20 187 active cases and Limpopo the lowest with 711. 

“It is a cause of serious concern that the Free State is the province with the second-highest active COVID-19 cases nationally. These statistics are cause for serious concern, given that the Free State has the second-lowest population after the Northern Cape which has 3 500 active COVID-19 cases,” said Pittaway. 

Pittaway said Ramaphosa boasted over an 89.2% recovery rate of COVID-19 infections in South Africa. 

“This is far above the global recovery rate of 73%. But, as at 20 September 2020, the Free State has had 44 037 COVID-19 cases of which only 29 049 cases have recovered which is a 65% recovery rate. The Free State, therefore, remains far below the national recovery rate, as well as, the global recovery rate,” said Pittaway. 

The DA said it has also come to light that 101 of the 105 quarantine beds in Fezile Dabi District in the Free State are empty and only 108 of the 195 quarantine beds in Lejweleputswa District are being utilised. 

“These districts have high incidences of COVID-19, and these underutilised quarantine facilities obviously contribute to the low recovery rate in the Free State,” said Pittaway. 

The DA submitted questions to the MEC of Health Montseng Tsiu, on 9 September 2020, regarding the worrying statistics and underutilisation of quarantine sites in the Free State, without any response.

‘FAILING HEALTH AND OTHER BASIC SERVICES’ – PITTAWAY

Pittaway added that, in stark contrast, the DA-run Western Cape under the stewardship of Premier Alan Winde and his team of experts has recently been lauded by Professor Salim Abdool Karim where he cited the Western Cape’s decisive leadership as having “played a major role in keeping COVID-19 infections low”. 

“The current low number of 3 494 active cases in the Western Cape is proof of this. The DA will continue to put pressure on the MEC of Health to ensure that the people of the Free State receive the health care service they deserve,” said Pittaway. 

“While life in the rest of the country is adapting to the ‘new normal’, the people of the Free State remain caught up in a web of failing health and other basic services which is costing those dependent on government health services their lives,” she added. 

The latest COVID-19 report can be found here.