Staff Reporter
Health MEC Montseng Tsiu says the Free State is gearing up for a possible spike in COVID-19 cases in the mining communities across the province as more workers return from the holidays.
She said this on Wednesday when she addressed a media briefing to give a provincial update on coronavirus cases and the measures being implemented to tackle the second wave of the acute respiratory disease.
Tsiu said her department was putting together district-based teams to tackle increased numbers when more businesses open for the new year, particularly in the mining sector.
“We cannot overlook the effect of the mining industry in our province,” said Tsiu.
“Remember that most of the workers are coming from outside the province and went home for holidays,” she added.
“When they come back this will increase the possibility of cross-province infections.”
Lejweleputswa district, which is home to the Goldfields mining region, currently has the second highest cumulative COVID-19 cases in the province after Mangaung Metro.
Latest figures indicate the area has recorded 14 150 cases over the past nine months.
“The mining industry played a big role towards the situation as most of its workforce are migrant labourers from other areas. The possibility is that some might be imported cases,” Tsiu suggested.
Since the first COVID-19 case was reported in the Free State last year, the province now has a cumulative total of 70 891 cases.
At least 59 268 people or 84 percent have recovered.
A total of 2 473 deaths have been reported in the province.
Lejweleputswa district has the highest case fatality rate in the province.
Mangaung Metro remains the lead with 30 677 infections – the most affected area is Bloemfontein which has 23 938 cases followed by Botshabelo with 3 322, Thaba Nchu 2 788 and Naledi 629.
Thabo Mofutsanyana district recently reached 12 684.
Tsiu said this was disturbing as the communities there were mostly under-privileged and did not have adequate access to amenities, including clean running water and sanitation.
“Maluti-a-Phofung is highly populated and presents challenges on the implementation of non-pharmaceutical protocols such as social distancing and self-isolation (should need arise),” she said.
Fezile Dabi district has 9 277 confirmed cases with Moqhaka Local Municipality having the highest prevalence with 3 293 cases and Metsimaholo 3 142.
These two are the most developed areas in the district and have the highest populations.
The situation was exacerbated by cluster outbreaks at some boarding schools around the district and its proximity to other provinces.
Xhariep district has 4 001 confirmed positive cases, with Kopanong municipality having the highest with 1 877 confirmed cases.
The district’s proximity to the Eastern Cape – which at some stage was one of the national hotspots – could have contributed to the increase in numbers in this sparsely populated region because the communities interact often and share a lot of commonalities and activities.
“We are striving for a hundred percent recoveries although we must submit it is not easy,” said Tsiu.
“Thabo Mofutsanyana and Fezile Dabi are our new focal points as their numbers are increasing drastically.
“The population group of between ages 30-34 years remains the most vulnerable and a risk to infections.”