Following the visit of the National Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, in Nelson Mandela Bay earlier this week, the Municipality embarked on an intensified, enforcement programme, focusing on COVID-19 regulations.
Today, 20 November 2020, the Municipality’s Environmental Health Sub-directorate, led by Public Health Executive Director, Sizwe Mvunelwa, together with the South African Police Service and the NMB Metro Police, conducted a COVID-19 related awareness and law enforcement programme in Kwanobuhle, Uitenhage. Kwanobuhle is one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s hot spot areas with high numbers of COVID-19 infections.
“We will mainly be focusing on taverns and night clubs as it has been found that these establishments present fertile ground for the spike of COVID-19 infections. In these places of social gatherings people are not wearing masks, they don’t maintain social distancing, they share glasses and so much more,” said Mvunelwa.
He said they have also inspected public transport to ensure the safety of the commuters and that all the safety measures are being adhere to.
Mvunelwa said the City encourages the taxi drivers to ensure that there is ventilation when they are transporting people and that they are being sanitised.
This programme will also focus on other hotspot areas around the City, such as Motherwell and Kwazakhele.
“We urge all residents to wear their masks, maintain social distancing and wash their hands regularly. We also ask that they avoid attending social gatherings and crowded places. The coronavirus is still with us and Nelson Mandela Bay is the hotspot for the whole country, please stay home,” added Mvunelwa.
Some of the areas that were visited are the Post Office, big retail stores and shopping malls. Since the easing of regulations under Lockdown Level 1 residents across the City have been seen to ignore COVID-19 regulations. The perception has been that, the risk of COVID-19 was over with the decreasing infection rate under Levels 3 and 2.
Mvunelwa said that the journey to fight COVID-19 has been long, fatigue was starting to catch up with frontline workers such as doctors, nurses, environmental health practitioners as well as communications officials who work on community awareness and mobilisation. “This fight is now becoming each and everyone’s responsibility to take care of themselves and those close to them by respecting COVID-19 regulations. It is in our hands now,” said Mvunelwa.
According to the latest stats, about 1504 people have died, 654 new cases were reported and 30097 people have recovered in Nelson Mandela Bay.
NMB Communications
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