Glimmer of Covid hope but stay vigilant

Though not out of the woods just yet, all indications are that we are slowly winning the war against Covid-19 until the third wave hits. Nelson Mandela Bay, one of the first regions declared as a coronavirus hotspot last year, had 84 active cases last week. Of those, only 12 people were in hospital. This is great news as the virus has turned the world upside down, killing people, destroying businesses and pushing the stagnant economy deep into further depression.

And with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine being trialled on health-care workers, there is light at the end of the very dark tunnel which the world was plunged into.

While the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has still not approved the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, thousands of health-care workers have been inoculated.

The SAHPRA has not approved the use of a full rollout of the vaccine because it still has not established whether it is safe for use or effective.

Should the Johnson & Johnson vaccine get the green light, teachers, police, soldiers and other front-line workers will be next in line, with the rest of the adult population being vaccinated last as part of phase three.

The Eastern Cape government previously aimed to vaccinate 3.5-million people by November to achieve herd immunity.

Whether the target will be achieved within the targeted deadline or not is yet to be seen.

While vaccines have been developed around the world, including the Johnson & Johnson one still on trial in SA, possibly providing the shield against the virus, the threat of a third wave is forever present, as authorities have warned.

This means we cannot afford to drop our guard.

And with the Easter holiday around the corner, when thousands of people will attend church services — if the national coronavirus command council relaxes regulations — that means we could see a sharp rise in new infections.

Until all those who want to be vaccinated get a jab with proven efficacy, we have to adhere to Covid-19 safety measures of practising good personal hygiene, social distance and wearing of masks whenever in public.

If we all play our part, then Covid-19 will soon be a thing of the past.