By: Nosipho Haya-Komisa
In a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Buffalo City area, the municipality has embarked on a campaign to establish Covid-19 ward-based rapid-response task team.
The task teams will be trained in order to assist in awareness campaigns, contact tracing and sharing of positive information around the virus.
A total of four ward-based teams have already been established in areas with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the metro.
Buffalo City Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the metro is working hand in glove with the provincial government to fight the spread of the pandemic.
“The wards have been identified by the Department of Health in order to strengthen interventions at the community level. The identified wards are Ward 4, 9, 16, 19, 22, 23, 28, 37, 42, 46.”
“The Municipality is working together with COGTA and the Department of Health and has already launched structures in ward 22, Mdantsane and ward 46, Santa,” said Ngwenya.
Ngwenya revealed that Buffalo City Metro has the highest number of recovery patients of COVID-19 in the province.
“Buffalo City Metro Municipality wants to get across that the Buffalo City Metro has one of the highest recovery rates in the province and also has recorded a less fatality rate.
As at 22 July 2020, the BCM Covid-19 Command Centre updates that in Buffalo City there were 16 274 Confirmed cases, 12 867 Recoveries, 3 224 Active Cases and 183 deaths,” said Ngwenya.
Ngwenya also said that the department will set up ten Hotspot Wards that have the highest number of COVID-19 cases.