Staff Reporter
Local water board Bloemwater says there has been a case of COVID-19 at its Bethulie regional office but water treatment operations have not been affected.
“Bloemwater would like to confirm its first reported case of COVID-19 at Bethulie, Orange River regional office,” Bloemwater said in a statement.
“The water treatment works were not exposed, so the plants will continue to render uninterrupted water supply,” it added.
Bloemwater said the Free State provincial health department had been informed and had provided the necessary support and testing.
“All the necessary procedures have been followed as prescribed in government regulations and guidelines,” it said.
The incident has left two administrative offices temporarily closed to allow for deep cleaning and disinfection to take place.
All administrative staff are presently working from home.
Other contacts are being traced as testing for the disease continues.
Bloemwater said it acted swiftly in responding to the incident and that “all is under control”.
“There is no need for panic as the entity continues to supply water in this and other regions,” it said.
As of Thursday, the Free State had 148 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
At least 108 people had recovered from the disease since the first case was reported in the province at the end of March, while six people had succumbed to it.
Nationally, the figure stood at 12 739 with 5 576 recoveries and 238 deaths.