Photo: Unsplash
Photo: Unsplash
Despite recording a relatively low number of COVID-19 cases throughout the last two waves of the pandemic, North West now seems to be struggling to stem the tide of new infections this time around. The province has become something of an ‘unlikely’ virus hot-spot, due to its small population density and modest impact on the national coronavirus stats.
However, this disease does not pick and choose its favourites. North West Health MEC, Madoda Sambatha, says that things ‘are not looking good’ for the local health system, as cases continue to soar in the province. The politician believes that the impact of ‘complacency’ is now taking a serious toll, after citizens returned to ‘living like normal’.
“The North West province is currently experiencing a serious spike in cases since last week, an average of 300 cases per day is a huge sign of concern for our province. In the last 24 hours we recorded a total of 426 new positive cases and this gives us 7 189 active cases. These recent developments do not augur well for the provincial health system.”
“People are beginning to live as if we are back to normality. We see this in how shopping complexes, taxi ranks, and domestic activities like funerals get overcrowded. We will have a potential crisis if our communities do not take preventative measures to curb the spread of infections. People must adhere to preventative measures.”
The sharp rise in infections, and the rate at which people are now being submitted to hospital in North West, signals the beginning of a third wave for the region. Here’s what we know so far about the localised COVID-19 resurgence…
Bojanala and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda are now the hardest-hit districts, as cases continue to take off here. The Provincial Government is now pleading with residents to follow the lockdown rules, or risk overwhelming the healthcare system.