The number of deaths due to COVID-19 related complications has continued to rise at an alarming rate in the Eastern Cape.
This as the country faces a second surge of the coronavirus pandemic. In the past 24 hours, 85 deaths have been reported in the Eastern Cape, putting the provincial death toll at 8 600 since the start of pandemic in March last year.
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Despite the alarming death rate, ignorance remains prevalent. This is leading to a lack of compliance with lockdown regulations.
COVID-19 Pandemic | Eastern Cape has recorded over 8 000 COVID-19 related deaths
The Thutshana family of Tyumbu near Mthatha is among those that have lost loved ones. Family spokesperson Lungisa Thutshana says they have lost six members to COVID-19.
“We are confused and hopeless. We do not know what is right and wrong. We have been losing our parents, brothers and sisters. This invisible cruel infectious COVID-19 has been visiting this family more than six times. The graveyard is populated with my family members. We bury one member after the other, the doors are closed and we are traumatized,” says Thutshana.
Spokesperson of the provincial Health Department, Sizwe Kupelo, says people must play a more active role to save lives.
“The pressure would go down only if people in the communities take it upon themselves to prevent the spread, prevent it, take all the precautions, take all the non-pharmaceutical or non-clinical measures to prevent the infections. That is where we going to win this thing,” says Kupelo.
Eastern Cape COVID-19 media briefing on statistics in the province
