The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is officially in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as it is dealing with nearly 2 400 active cases of coronavirus infection. It is the first region in the Eastern Cape to be declared in the third wave. The Delta variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Sarah Baartman district. But the health department is also concerned about the Buffalo City Metro and the OR Tambo region.
There are more than 4 700 active cases in the province currently. MEC for Health Nomakhosazana Meth says they will target SASSA pay points to improve the rate of vaccinations for the elderly.
“It is a big concern as we are slowly seeing signs of a virus that is running away from us – as it comes as it was in the first and second wave.”
A rise in cases in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro:
Earlier, the Eastern Cape government embarked on a mass testing and vaccination registration drive for the elderly over the age of 60 years in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Meth also expressed concern about people coming from former affluent areas.
“We are worried about the numbers that are rising and when we look at the statistics it is the people that are coming from the former affluent areas. Our people in the townships are not doing the testing hence we decided we must do the vaccine registration and parallel to that do the testing.”
