Staff Reporter
At least 24 healthcare workers in the Free State have succumbed to COVID-19, Health MEC Montseng Tsiu has said.
She said a total of 1 786 healthcare workers in the province have contracted the coronavirus and about 1 296 had recovered from the acute respiratory disease.
The MEC said this during a special tribute to healthcare workers and professionals she co-hosted virtually with Premier Sisi Ntombela on Tuesday.
“The attack is coming from all corners of the battlefield,” Tsiu said as she bemoaned the loss of life and saluted all healthcare workers for their courage in the face of the deadly disease.
There are 544 active cases of healthcare workers in the province, with 17 of them presently admitted in hospital.
“When many decided to retreat and hide behind fear and anxiety, you volunteered to be in the forefront of the battlefield,” Tsiu said.
“That does not necessarily mean you yourselves are not afraid of the invisible enemy but you understand that someone has to wage the war against the enemy.”
Tsiu said the community spread of the disease has reached astronomical proportions which continue to cause panic and anxiety particularly amongst healthcare workers as they are on the frontline.
“We are under siege, but we shall not lose hope,” she said.
“You have relentlessly fought the battles many would not get involved in.”
The MEC said about 467 healthcare workers have contracted COVID-19 in Mangaung and there have been 338 recoveries. There are 192 active cases – with three of them admitted in hospital – and five deaths in the metro.
Lejweleputswa district has 492 confirmed cases and there have been 423 recoveries, 423. There are 69 active cases with three presently in hospital. Eight healthcare workers have died in the district.
Thabo Mofutsanyana has 419 confirmed cases and 169 recoveries. There are 246 active cases of which seven are admitted. There have been five deaths.
About 323 healthcare workers in Fezile Dabi have contracted the disease while 293 recovered. The district has lost five healthcare workers.
In Xhariep, there are 85 confirmed cases of healthcare workers with 73 recoveries. Four are admitted in hospital and the district has lost one healthcare worker.
The premier also expressed concern that cases of COVID-19 in the province were escalating at an increasing rate, thereby putting the lives of healthcare workers and their loved ones at risk.
“You are increasingly at the risk of contracting this virus, which continues to manifest itself in our communities,” Ntombela said.
“We therefore call upon you, as the men and women in the forefront of waging the battle against this invisible enemy, to keep up the good fight.”
Overall, the province now has about 28 909 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with a total of 414 deaths. There have been 13 478 recoveries.