Covid's third wave leaves a trail of coffins

The third wave of Covid-19 infections seems to be flattening out, but it has left behind a trail of destruction. The official figures of Covid-related deaths occurring the past month in Vhembe is well over 200.

On Wednesday, 4 August, the number of active Covid-19 cases in Vhembe stood at 656. The third wave peaked on 14 July when the region had 2 171 active cases. On 1 August, the Thulamela District recorded slightly more cases (279) than the Makhado district (266). Musina had 143 cases and the Collins Chabane District recorded 67 cases.

The rising numbers of Covid-19 patients had a direct impact on the local hospitals. At the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital, things were extremely hectic at times. During a visit of the MEC for Health, Phophi Ramathuba, earlier this week, she said that the hospital had to be converted to deal exclusively with Covid patients.

The situation became so dire that it ran out of beds to accommodate the increasing number of critically ill patients, who arrived in groups. According to the MEC, some patients were self-referred from other nearby hospitals. Even its casualty wards were filled to the brim, trying to fit everyone in. A number of patients were even attended to in a tent, erected in an open area outside on the hospital grounds.

Ramathuba said that the situation had thankfully improved and the general wards at the Memorial Hospital had been re-opened for general patients.

At the end of June, the official number of Covid-related deaths in Vhembe stood at 497. On 4 August, this tally had gone up to 751. Most of the deaths were recorded in Makhado (367), with Thulamela some way behind on 250. In Musina, 31 deaths were recorded and in Collins Chabane 103.

News - Date: 05 August 2021

Anton van Zyl

Anton van Zyl has been with the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror since 1990. He graduated from the Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg) and obtained a BA Communications degree. He is a founder member of the Association of Independent Publishers.

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