Old-aged home beats Covid-19

Thirty-five residents and 17 staff members of a Goodwood home for the aged tested positive for Covid-19 in a massive scare that seems to be abating, manager Andre Verster said yesterday.

A resident, 97, of the Protea Home for the Aged in the Western Cape is still in hospital but there are signs that the resident will beat the virus.

The cases emerged this month when it was discovered that four people who had died had the novel coronavirus.

The discovery led to testing in the frail-care section of the home and the diagnosis of 52 cases among residents and staff. The affected people are in isolation.

“We are on day nine already. Nobody had symptoms,” said a hopeful Verster, who manages the home. “So I think we are out of the woods. We are busy winning.”

Families are not allowed to leave care packages for their loved ones during the isolation period.

Verster said the virus had hit, even though the facility instituted physical distancing and strict hygiene measures long before President Cyril Ramaphosa’s March announcement that there would be a lockdown.

He said some of the residents had to leave the facility for medical check-ups and some staff members had to use public transport and somehow the virus entered the facility.

“It is a war,” said Verster. However, they are hoping that by Thursday, life will go back to the new normal when everybody’s isolation period ends.

This week, mass testing will be conducted for about 250 more-mobile and independent residents.

Verster said psychologically, it was difficult for the residents because their children could not visit. He said the decontamination and cleansing of the facility was ongoing.

– News24 Wire

We are out of the woods. We are busy winning.