Staff Reporter
The Free State has entered the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic following a continued rise in daily figures over the past few weeks, with the major private hospitals in the province running out of space for admissions for those infected.
“We are in the third wave of the outbreak and have today seen a shocking rise of infections to 427 new cases with 60 yet to be allocated to appropriate districts,” provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi told The Free Stater on Thursday.
According to Mvambi, Mangaung has 200 new cases over the last 24 hours while Lejweleputswa has added 95 new cases.
Thabo Mofutsanyana has 53 new cases, Fezile Dabi 49 and Xhariep 21.
Staff at some private hospitals in the city confirmed they had run out of beds for COVID-19 patients and were referring patients to other health centres.
Mvambi however dismissed a rumour claiming Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein is no longer taking patients because it is full, saying one part of the health facility is empty and ready to admit patients.
“That rumour that Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital is full to capacity is not true. We currently have 30 patients at Pelonomi Hospital,” he said.
The provincial health spokesperson said there were 19 patients in the isolation ward which has a capacity of 22 beds.
The antenatal unit has four patients, the gynaecology ward has one patient, the high-care unit has five patients and paediatrics has one patient.
“It must be borne in mind that we built a state-of-the-art 40-bed COVID-19 ward called Omolemo which stands ready to admit patients should there be any high numbers of patients requiring admission,” he explained.
Mvambi appealed to all communities to take care of themselves and adhere to all COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical measures because there is no cure for COVID-19 and all its emerging mutating variants.
He said it was important for everyone to take personal responsibility to avoid getting infected and, when infected, to seek medical help and appropriately isolate or quarantine as may be advised by health practitioners.
“Our communities must ensure that they play their part and protect the health system from getting overwhelmed if everyone gets sick,” Mvambi said.
“Our current ability to treat people may not last if unnecessarily stretched to the limit by non-adherence to COVID-19 measures.
“We can see that all over the world, there is no health system that is able to withstand the high numbers of demand for high flow oxygen, high care and intensive care units.”
He also encouraged people aged over 60 to register to be vaccinated.
This is currently being done online using a computer or smartphone by logging onto: https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/ or use a zero-rated and no-cost USSD SMS system by dialling *134*832# or by free WhatsApp at 0600123456.