COVID-19 Delta variant detected in Limpopo
SEKHUKHUNE – The Limpopo Department of Health on Sunday warned members of the public that the rapidly spreading Delta variant of COVID-19 has been detected in the province.
The department indicated that it believed the variant may be responsible for the rapid spike of COVID-19 cases driving the third wave in the province.
According to the department figures in the province jumped from 385 cases last Tuesday to 1780 on Saturday.
Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba said the time to be extra careful was now and that people needed to understand that the variant would make it extra difficult to keep numbers low.
MEC Ramathuba added that, therefore, they needed to warn that there was an urgent need for an extreme turn around in behavioral change.
The department informed this week the province has also seen increased numbers on low age categories. 67 cases of children between 0-9 years have been reported while 638 were for people between 15 to 34.
“With the discovery of the Delta variant, unrepentant behavioral patterns such as social and political gatherings are a recipe for disaster. If people will continue to defiantly organize parties and other social jamborees, the spread will be too difficult to contain,” added Ramathuba.
Meanwhile, MEC Ramathuba is expected to launch COVID-19 vaccination of citizens aged 50 years-old and above as part of stepping up the fight against coronavirus at Sterkrivier Farm in the Waterberg district.
The launch comes after the Delta variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Limpopo Province. The department for the past few weeks saw COVID-19 cases increasing rapidly, which signaled the province having entered the third wave.
“Anyone 50 years and older can register for their COVID-19 vaccination using the Electronic Vaccination Delivery System (EVDS), WhatsApp, or sms so that they can be vaccinated. This time we are extending our outreach vaccination program to the farms,” said Ramathuba.