Warning: Covid is still here - experts

Resurgence still possible as South Africans revel in eased restrictions

South Africans are being lulled into a false sense of security that Covid-19 is no a longer threat, but they do so at their peril.

That is the message from leading Eastern Cape medical experts who have noticed people are no longer taking precautions, especially with the downgrading of the national lockdown to level 1 on September 20.

In some parts of the province, the Dispatch has established, some even believe the country is now virus-free. These residents interpreted President Cyril Ramaphosa s announcement

’ on the eased lockdown as a return to pre-Covid-19 conditions.

The Dispatch team this week also observed many people in East London hugging and touching hands in public spaces like shopping malls.

Provincial health department adviser in the OR Tambo district s joint operations centre,

’ Dr Bevan Goqwana, said he, too, had noticed the social trend of people no longer

“” observing coronavirus protocols.

Even at lockdown level 2, people didn t “’ seem to care. This isn t an easy process and ’ Covid-19, aswell as other airborne infections and diseases, isn t gone,” he said.

’ The social aspect of our lives has changed. “We should be vigilant and endure for as long as we can the onus rests on the individual. — It s not surprising that the numbers are going ’ up,” Goqwana said.

Goqwana hoped the virus would be less virulent heading into the summer months.

Since September 26, there has been an average of more than 900 cases in SA a day. Over the week, national statistics were:

● September 30 — 1,767;

● September 29 — 903;

● September 28 — 903;

● September 27 — 1,268;

● September 26 — 969.

Dr David Stead, an infectious diseases specialist in the department of medicine at Frere and Cecilia Makiwane hospitals, said wearing masks was still important in high-risk spaces.

The mask wearing is important in public “areas, restaurants, bars, shebeens, transport like taxis, churches and other high-risk spaces — the mask must be kept on and hand hygiene practised.

People seem to be interpreting level 1 “lockdown as little danger. But lockdown has been extremely difficult with restrictions on socilasing, the people are tired of coronavirus, Stead said. ”

He advised that when any kind of social activity was planned, groups should be limited and there should be contact tracing if needs be.

No matter how low the numbers are, “there s still a risk of infection from imported ’ cases. This is a virus we re going to have to ’ live with until we can at least get a vaccine for it.”

Stead warned that people should not be lulled into a false sense of security that the prevalence of the virus would be less in the summer season.

We ve seen cases in various countries such “’ as the US, where the Covid-19 numbers where high right through their summer season. Also now with travelling open, we need to be more vigilant so we can try to avoid a second wave,” he said.

Stead added that reinfection among those who had already had the virus was possible.

We re not sure how robust healing is from “’ coronavirus and reinfections. People who have had the virus aren t bulletproof and ’ should be careful to avoid reinfection.”

On Thursday, the Buffalo City Metro command centre released its Covid-19 statistics, showing the metro stands at 58 active cases. No fatalities were recorded in the last two weeks, and the overall BCM death toll stands at 699.

The BCM command centre also noted that:

● There is a reduction of the SARS-Cov-2 burden of disease in BCM;

● The risk of dying increases with the increase in the age of the individuals; and

● The hospitalisation of patients who tested positive for SARS-Cov-2 continued to decrease, especially in August and September.

Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba has warned that the province could see a surge in cases. There are now about 20 people a day testing positive for the virus in Nelson Mandela Bay.

That figure — 149 cases registered in seven days — was revealed in a provincial health department report dated September 29.

We ’ re not sure how robust healing is from coronavirus and reinfections