Eastern Cape Hijacking biohazard COVID-19

Photo: Pixabay

Biohazard alert for Eastern Cape: COVID-19 samples ‘stolen in hijacking’

A large amount of COVID-19 samples have been stolen from a clinic in the Eastern Cape, and the botched hijacking has sparked a biohazard warning.

Eastern Cape Hijacking biohazard COVID-19

Photo: Pixabay

Just when things cannot get any more ridiculous, a crime like this is reported. Officials in Port Elizabeth have been left dumbfounded, after a large number of COVID-19 samples went missing during a hijacking on Monday. Local authorities are now concerned about the biohazard threat to the Eastern Cape.

If it’s not massive COVID-19 outbreaks at schools, it’s a wasted R10 million on scooters: The Eastern Cape’s response to the pandemic has been questioned at the best of times, and this bizarre act of criminality does nothing to make life easier for a health department that’s being pushed to breaking point by the virus.

PE Biohazard: Hijacking of COVID-19 truck stumps officials

The news was relayed by Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane earlier on Tuesday. The provincial leader condemned the criminals, slamming them for endangering lives across the city. There will now be a backlog of tests in the region, as the incident prevented potential COVID-19 samples from being processed:

“Yesterday we received reports that a courier vehicle transporting COVID-19 specimens for the NHLS [National Health Laboratory Service] was hijacked in Port Elizabeth and criminals who did this took a white container with the specimens. We condemn this act of criminality, which puts the lives of people at risk.”

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane

Eastern Cape’s ‘stolen samples’ – what to look out for

Police are still looking for the suspects, and they will be desperate to bring these crooks to justice. According to the latest information shared by SAPS, these are the key points to note:

  • The courier truck picked up two boxes of specimens in Motherwell at 14:30. It was then hijacked at gunpoint.
  • The unknown number of biohazard samples were contained in 40 litre cooler boxes.
  • Anyone who sees a white cooler box in the vicinity has been told to contact the police.
  • The truck’s battery and the spare wheel were also stolen. The vehicle itself was dumped just 500 metres away from the robbery site, but all of the samples had gone missing.