Staff Reporter
Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela says the recent adjustment of the country’s lockdown restrictions to Alert Level 2 does not mean COVID-19 is gone and people should continue taking all precautions against the disease.
“I see many people are happy that we have moved to Level 2,” Ntombela said when she officially opened the new 79-bed COVID-19 surge ward at Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein on Friday.
“I urge everyone to continue protecting themselves against the disease,” she pointed out, adding COVID-19 remains a threat to human life and that people should not take chances and lower their guard against the disease because there is more economic activity and less stringent regulations.
The new surge facility has been named Omolemo – because it will be of great help to the people that need COVID-19 healthcare.
A surge ward is designed to provide increased medical evaluation and care in the event of a sharp rise in demand for medical infrastructure.
The Pelonomi facility is fully equipped to deal with any eventuality of COVID-19-related need for medical care.
It is equipped with oxygen, medicine and the appropriate personal protective equipment.
The opening of the new unit follows the official launch last week of a similar facility at Universitas Academic Hospital which has 163 beds.
Health MEC Montseng Tsiu said despite a drop in COVID-19 cases in the Free State in recent weeks, it was important for the province to remain prepared for a sudden upsurge in cases.
She said contrary to belief that the new facility could be a waste of money given the declining figures, the surge unit is a good investment for the province.
“We have not yet arrived at our destination as we are still experiencing infections and cautious about expecting a second wave of the virus,” Tsiu warned.
“It happened in other countries in the world. It emerged with the relaxation of some lockdown restrictions which included increased persons movement.”
The MEC said the new beds will mainly be used for people under investigation as they await their results, separated from others.
“They will be monitored and treated based on their health needs,” she explained.
“Remember that others might already be having underlying conditions . . . therefore, they might need to be cared for under the management and supervision of trained health professionals and providers.”
The new unit will be manned by 16 doctors, 90 nurses, 20 cleaners, 18 household aides and 14 clerks.
Meanwhile, the latest official figures indicate that 500 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the province by end of day yesterday, bringing the total to 33 665.
Mangaung Metro had 201 new cases while Fezile Dabi had 63.
Thabo Mofutsanyana recorded 91, Lejweleputswa 105, Xhariep 36 and there were four unallocated cases.
There have been 20 433 or 61 percent recoveries and about 567 people have died from coronavirus-related complications.
The provincial case fatality rate stands at 1.7 percent.
The prevalence of the disease among those aged under 20 years has dropped slightly from 11 to 10.8 percent or 3 620 people.