Staff Reporter
The Free State’s COVID-19 tally has almost doubled overnight with 15 new cases confirmed, as more people who attended a church convention in Bloemfontein tested positive for the pneumonia-like respiratory illness that is ravaging the world.
The province now has 33 confirmed cases.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, who announced the latest figures on Wednesday morning, has called on members of the Divine Restoration Ministries, situated about 10km northeast of the Bloemfontein along Raymond Mahlaba Street, to continue coming forward for testing as they are feared to have contracted the coronavirus from five overseas visitors who are quarantined at a local bed-and-breakfast facility since they tested positive.
The five foreign nationals – from the United States, France and Israel – had travelled to South Africa to attend convention held at the church from March 9 to 11 where they interacted with 300 people.
Among those who had attended the service were African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) leader Kenneth Meshoe, ACDP MP Steve Swart and well-known pastor Angus Buchan.
All three have indicated that they have undergone testing.
The number of COVID-19 cases in South Africa now stands at 709 as of Wednesday morning.
Mkhize said the largest increases in the numbers emanated from Gauteng which recorded 64 new cases overnight, followed by the Western Cape with 61 cases, the Free State with 15 and KwaZulu-Natal with 11.
Meanwhile, the Free State Department of Health has praised the Divine Restoration Ministries for cooperating in the screening and testing exercise that is currently underway.
“As the Department of Health, we appreciate the highest level of cooperation that the Divine Restoration Ministries has given us in pulling off the mammoth task of screening and testing at their church,” provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said.
“They have opened their doors to us and assisted in every possible way, availing their premises, assisting with contact listing and providing resources.”
More than 360 members of the church had been tested so far, the department said.
“Surely, we wouldn’t have reached the high numbers of screening and testing that we reached had we done this on our own and without their cooperation,” Mvambi said.
“We plead with all other churches to emulate the good example of Divine Restoration Ministries and cooperate with us.
“The department is not encroaching on the divine space but seeks to help and protect the rest of our community from any further spread of the coronavirus in our province and the country.”
South Africa will go into lockdown for 21 days from Thursday evening in a bid to curb the increase in coronavirus cases.