Over 260 inmates to test for COVID-19 in East London’s Correctional Services

Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says over 260 inmates are being tested at the East London Correctional Services centre in the Eastern Cape. This after 26 positive COVID-19 cases were recorded at the centre, including three inmates and 23 staff members.

Minister Lamola says they are working with the Department of Health to ensure both staff and inmates are isolated and receive necessary medical assistance.

In this video Minister Ronald Lamola gives an update from the East London Correctional Services Centre:

He says the department has also taken measures to ensure that the virus does not affect other inmates.

“It’s single cells that will have to be manned by one medical person, to ensure that we are able from time to time to check and ensure that the cells are in line with the standards. The cleanliness that has been done including the deep cleaning that has been done as you have seen from time to time during the week, is adhering to those measures,” explains Lamola.

In the video below, Minister Ronald Lamola visits East London Correctional Services Centre:

Eastern Cape records 1st COVID-19 related death

Earlier in the week, the Eastern Cape province recorded its first coronavirus (COVID-19) related death.  A retired nurse has died from COVID-19 at Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth.

The deceased had attended a funeral at KwaDwesi Location where she is believed to have contracted the virus. The Nelson Mandela Bay is the epicentre of the pandemic, with 30 reported cases of the 61 in the province.

Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba says safety measures were not followed at the funeral.

“The patient was admitted just over a week at Livingstone in Port Elizabeth and she unfortunately lost the battle. She got into our hospital in a coma and we were thinking she is going to survive but however condolences to the family.”

Below is a graph that shows deaths caused by pandemics throughout history: