Staff Reporter
The Free State Department of Health says it is alarmed by the rapid rise in daily infections in the province with Mangaung Metro recording the highest number of cases.
Lejweleputswa and Fezile Dabi districts are tied on second place followed by Thabo Mofutsanyana and Xhariep districts.
“The rapid rise in numbers (exceeds) the projected fourth wave of infections . . .” said the department in a statement released Monday.
Latest figures indicate that there are 1 938 new cases in the Free State, with 882 of them in Mangaung, followed by Fezile Dabi and Lejweleputswa with 311 cases each.
Thabo Mofutsanyana has 305 and Xhariep 129.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province is 172 704 with 157 785 or 91 percent recoveries.
The department said the new Omicron variant has become a major concern as it is spreading faster than the previous variants.
President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive for the new variant on Sunday and is currently isolating at his Cape Town residence under the watch of the military medical team.
“Health care workers, the working population, professionals and every member of the community, have been warned by provincial health authorities to take all the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through adherence to established non-pharmaceutical interventions and taking the vaccine, ensuring that they are fully vaccinated with – Johnson & Johnson requiring one shot and Pfizer requiring two doses – as well as taking the available boosters,” said the department.
A total of 7 116 deaths have been reported in the province since the outbreak of the disease in March 2020.
The highest case fatality rate was reported in Thabo Mofutsanyana District with a 4.2 percent rate.