Photo: Pixabay
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.
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
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: