FREE STATE PREMIER CONCERNED WITH THIRD WAVE

By Bongani Tshabalala

BETHLEHEM-The Free State has come under scrutiny with cases of Covid-19 speaking recently. The Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela, , said that the Free State is currently in a third wave of the pandemic.

The province is currently one of the top three provinces with regards to active Covid-19 cases in the country. The Free State is third with 3 618 active cases, following KwaZulu-Natal with 5 383 and the Northern Cape with 3 750. This morning, Heidedal Police Station became the latest station to be closed due to Covid-19 related issues, as reported on the SAPS website.

In her most recent utterances, premier pleads with the public to be vigilant and not let their guard down. The Free State Premier was in Bethlehem on Wednesday to pay her last respect to one of her friends, Ntsoaki Mashinini, who also succumbed to Covid-19 complications.

“We are currently seeing worrying daily infections and deaths in the province. We cannot stress the importance of avoiding crowded places enough.

“The people of our province, particularly and worryingly the youth, continuously place themselves in harm’s way and visit places of entertainment which are often crowded.

“The result is that this kind of behaviour and activities significantly increase chances of people being infected. Of even greater concern is that the youth, the very same people who must lead society tomorrow, are engaging in these activities.

“I am pleading with you all to remain vigilant and not, even for a second, let your guard down. The danger is heightened and the virus continues to lurk amongst us. We continue losing loved ones and it is going to carry on this way I’m afraid, if we do not change our ways,” Ntombela said at the funeral on Wednesday.

The coronavirus has claimed 59 more lives in South Africa in the past 24 hours and this brings the total number of deaths in the country to 54 511.