Staff Reporter
The Free State Department of Health says the province has recorded nine recoveries from COVID-19 following increased efforts to contain the deadly disease.
“The department is pleased to have recorded nine recoveries from COVID-19,” said provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi in a statement released Monday evening.
“This number of COVID-19 recoveries should send a message of hope to anyone who happens to test positive to COVID-19 at any given point . . . that it is possible to recover from the effects of the virus.
“It is important to emphasise that these recoveries are highly influenced by the adherence to clinical advice and regulations.”
It was reported Sunday that the Free State had a total of 72 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Mvambi said the province has been able to screen a total of 2 767 people with 256 tested and 966 traced.
He said the department has deployed 25 tracer teams in the Mangaung Metro region which has the highest number of cases.
“We have 125 tracers in these 25 teams. These are men and women at the frontline. They are faced with an unenviable task of having to exercise patience in interacting with people who have to be shown the bright side of availing themselves to be screened in order to determine eligibility for testing,” he explained.
About 95 volunteers from the South Africa Red Cross are working with the tracer teams to boost capacity.
The provincial department has also deployed volunteers with expertise in different areas.
Mvambi said the province intends to screen any possible contact of those who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Mangaung has become the epicentre of the disease in the province after several several people who attended a church conference at the Divine Restoration Ministries in Bloemfontein earlier this month tested positive.
The congregants are believed to have come into contact with five overseas guests at the church gathering who eventually tested positive after showing symptoms.