Brown reveals that the number of cases in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality are of concern to the provincial government and pleads with residents to practice social distancing and regularly wash their hands. 

“If you are not feeling well, do not hesitate to go get tested. Don’t think it’s just the flu,” cautions Brown. She says should you present any symptoms or may have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, then call the coronavirus hotline number: 0800 029 999 from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

During a media briefing alongside Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, at the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein last week Wednesday, Premier Sisi Ntombela announced that 77 of the then 86 confirmed cases in the Free State, were located in Mangaung Metro, which includes Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba’ Nchu and Dewetsdorp. The latest information by Mkhize reveals the number of confirmed cases in the province now stands at 87.

More than 3 098 people have been arrested during the lockdown in the Free State alone, making it the province with the second highest number of arrests in the country. Some of these arrests are for the contravention of lockdown regulations. 

The first set of positive cases in the province emanated from the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast at Divine Restoration Church in Bloemfontein. As has already been reported, internationals from Israel, the United States of America (USA), and France, the majority of whom came to the country to attend the church meet, later tested positive for COVID-19 following the declaration of a state of emergency by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

OFM News