This is according to figures released by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on the back of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Monday evening. Government will be intensifying efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Thus far three people, including one man from the Free State, have died from complications associated with the virus which were exacerbated by other underlying diseases. OFM News’ Olebogeng Motse reports on some of the intensified efforts to curb spread of the virus.

Ramaphosa says the country, which has the highest rate of infection in Sub-Saharan Africa, is entering a new phase as lockdown enters day five. The government pledges to intensify the tracing, screening and testing of people that have been in contact with those who have tested positive for Covid-19, something which has already been done in the Free State since the first set of cases in the province were announced by Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, in Bloemfontein on 20 March.

At that briefing Mkhize announced five internationals from the United States, Israel and France that attended the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast and dinner at Divine Restoration Church in Bloemfontein from 10 to 11 May, tested positive for the virus and had encountered a great number of people during their visit. Mvambi says to date the department has been able to “screen a total of 2767 people with 256 tested and 966 traced”. This includes congregants from three more Bloemfontein churches that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Two churches - the Global Reconciliation Church and the Eagle Christian Church Restoration Centre - are located in the Bloemanda township. Whilst the third church, Word to the World Ministry, under Pastor Andile Somtseu, is located near Makro in Bloemfontein. These church leaders who attended the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast tested positive for Covid-19, and are believed to have later come into contact with their own congregants.

In total, 25 tracer teams made up of 125 women and men per team, have been deployed to Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality - which has the highest cases in the Free State - to track down contacts. This deployment of teams, which includes Red Cross volunteers, appears to be yielding results for the province.

OFM News