Nehawu Chair tests positive
The Midland Hospital in Graaff-Reinet is continuing as usual and precautions were put in place after the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) Chairperson, Sindile January, tested positive for Covid-19.
January received his results on 10 July. He decided to go public with his results to warn people about the seriousness of Covid-19.
The chief executive officer of the hospital, Marie de Vos, gave the assurance that all departments of the hospital continue their normal service and deep cleaning take place regularly.
The laundry department where January works consists of three personnel and function as normal.
De Vos said within all the departments of the hospital, including the doctors, pharmacy, nurses and all other staff, there are 204 personnel registered at the hospital.
She said staff on a regular basis test positive and are then put under quarantine for 14 days. "Other staff then stand in for them."
De Vos said the staff that test positive do not necessarily pick up the virus by working with Covid-19 patients, but also after work at other places. She did not want to elaborate on how many staff members had already tested positive but did say it happens on a weekly basis.
The Eastern Cape Health Department communications officer, Siyanda Manana, did not respond to an inquiry from the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser on how any health workers have tested positive.
It's not known where January got infected. January urged that everyone must fight Covid-19 together and said no one invited this virus.
De Vos gave the assurance that everyone who enters the hospital undergoes a Covid-19 pre-screening.
Die Attaqua K9honde-eenheid op
Oudtshoorn het verlede week 'n nuwe bevelvoerder gekry.
Lt.kol. Rheta Louw, wat aanvanklik by die Mosselbaai hondeeenheid was, het 18 jaar ervaring in die honde-eenheid en is reeds 30 jaar in diens van die SuidAfrikaanse polisiediens. Sy het ook by die Ethology Academy as dieregedragskundige studeer en het 'n passie om met diere en veral met honde te werk.
"Honde-eenhede het tans nie juis 'n goeie naam nie en was onlangs weer in die nuus oor die vrektes van honde. My doel is egter om te bewys nie alle honde-eenhede is dieselfde nie en almal kan nie oor dieselfde kam geskeer word nie. Ek wil die fokus terugbring na die honde en die werk wat hulle verrig," het sy gesê.
Volgens Louw misgis mense hulle met die groot rol wat honde in 'n ondersoek speel.
"Hoe vinniger 'n hond op 'n toneel kom hoe makliker is dit om vars bewyse of selfs verdagtes op te spoor.
As daar byvoorbeeld na huisbrake gekyk word waar verdagtes weghardloop, help dit geweldig baie as die hond so gou moontlik op die toneel kom om 'n vars spoor te kry en sodoende die verdagte vinniger op te spoor. Die bloed- en semenhonde snuffel die kleinste bietjie bewyse by verkragtingstonele uit.
Hoe vinniger die hond by so 'n toneel aangewend word, hoe groter is die