Staff Reporter
With daily dosages of COVID-19 information and statistics dominating the headlines and flooding your social media timelines, you are probably now sick and tired of coronavirus news.
But seeing how the pandemic is wreaking havoc in the Free State and elsewhere across the country, this is one health crisis you cannot afford to ignore, not even for a minute.
Take a look at this picture: on the morning of June 1 when President Cyril Ramaphosa first eased the lockdown restrictions, the Free State had 266 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including eight related deaths.
Now, just two months later – or 66 days to be exact – the province’s official count stands at a staggering 25 232 cases with 350 people having succumbed to the disease!
This means 24 966 new cases have been recorded within that period, averaging at least 378 new cases and five deaths per day.
According to the latest statistics available, on August 5 the Free State recorded 899 new cases within 24 hours.
Of that, the provincial epicentre, Mangaung accounted for the highest daily increase with 389 new cases.
Lejweleputswa had the second highest figure at 207 followed by Thabo Mofutsanyana with 149, Fezile Dabi 86 and Xhariep 58.
About 10 cases were yet to be allocated to districts.
So far, at least 11 575 people or 46 percent of those infected by the acute respiratory disease have recovered and 350 have died, putting the provincial case fatality rate at 1.4 percent.
The prevalence among those below the age of 20 remains at 11 percent or 2 786 in number.
The spike in COVID-19 cases was not unexpected, but what’s important is for all people to realise the worst is not over yet and keep strictly following pandemic regulations and other health protocols such as always wearing masks, sanitising and washing hands as well as observing social distancing.
Meanwhile, three police stations, namely Jaggersfontein, Parys and Wesselbron, have been temporarily closed after some officers tested positive for the coronavirus disease.
Jagersfontein police will in the meantime operate from the detectives’ offices at Number 2 Hospital Road in the town.
Parys police will operate from the Victim Empowerment Centre next to the main gate of police station.
In Wesselsbron, they will operate from Monyakeng satellite police station.
The temporary closure of police stations is meant to allow for decontamination and to enable officers to undergo the necessary COVID-19-related protocols.
