How to register for your Covid-19 jab on Whatsapp

Covid-19 numbers are being held in check in the Eastern Cape while, all around, infections are on the rise.

According to TIMESLIVE, infections are rising fast in Gauteng and the Western Cape.

Provincial health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the department was concerned about the Joe Gqabi municipality from a pandemic perspective, given its proximity to the Free State, where new cases were also climbing.

He said rapid testing was available at all hospitals in the province and that this was a turning point in keeping the province’s infection rate lower than other provinces.

“All patients who come to hospitals with symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 are tested.

“Contacts of positive patients in hospital are also tested,” Kupelo said.

“Hotspot areas in the community are also tested through the rapid antigen test.

“It is supported by 11 mobile testing labs in community health centres.

“We have consistently kept the recovery rate above 94%, which has been attributed to tracer teams and clinicians inside and outside hospitals.”

Kupelo said the province ’ s acting director-general of health, Dr Sibongile Zungu, was leading a technical team of HODS and senior managers who were monitoring threats.

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday that all Eastern Cape districts had recorded a “zero percent average change”.

However, he qualified this statement: “This does not mean they are not getting new infections, but it does mean they have maintained a plateau, which is very encouraging.

“This reinforces the message that we can all play our part to ensure these rises in infections do not turn into a third wave.”

Kupelo said: “We are focusing on Joe Gqabi given the spike in new cases in the Free State.

“We want to ensure that there is sufficient oxygen in health facilities and enough vehicles for tracing cases.

“We are getting ready for a possible third wave.”

The second phase of vaccine rollout starts on Monday and the health department has launched a service to register over-60s for the vaccine via Whatsapp.

They need simply Whatsapp the word “Register” to 0600123-456. This service is also now used to get information about the pandemic, including news, regulations, symptoms, treatment and risks.

Anyone over 60 can register for the vaccine by dialling *134*832* followed by their ID number.

Kupelo said they had already registered more than 85,000 over-60s across the province.

The department was expecting two million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, he added. “They will be sent mainly to the rural areas.

“We are also expecting the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine, which will be used in the urban setup due to its storage and transport requirements.”

The Pfizer vaccine needs to be kept exceptionally cold and needs to be followed up with a second jab while the one-shot J&J needs only fridge temperatures. The target is for 4.5m Eastern Cape residents to get the jab while more than 37,000 health workers have already received it.

However, DA MPL Jane Cowley questioned the rollout readiness of the provincial health department, saying the exercise could prove catastrophic because of the low number of provincial health workers.

“The health department must craft a workable contingency plan that includes filling critical vacant posts in all hospitals and clinics, as well as working with the private sector and appropriate NGOS to manage the vaccine rollout effectively while being able to respond to the third wave.”

Kupelo said: “We need to continue with social distancing, washing hands, wearing masks and sanitisation.

“In hospital we can only manage serious cases. If all of us, the DA included, can just focus on educating and encouraging people to understand that the war against Covid-19 is within communities.

“People move the virus. “We aid it by not complying with the regulations.