Bethlehem’s first Covid-19 case a ‘wake-up call’

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All communities being serviced by the Bethlehem police station are advised that the station is currently closed for decontamination, after a police woman tested positive for coronavirus. Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, apologised to the community for the inconvenience.

As of 14 May 2020, Free State currently has 148 confirmed Covid-19 cases, six deaths and 108 recoveries. The district breakdown is as follows: Thabo Mofutsanyana has a total of nine cases, Xhariep has one case, Fezile Dabi and Lejweleputswa sits at five cases each and Mangaung rounds out the province with 128 confirmed cases.

According to Spokesperson Constable Puleng Lebakeng, the officer has been taken to a healthcare facility, and the police building is closed while it’s being deep-cleaned. Lebakeng also reassures the public that the correct precautions were taken, and that residents shouldn’t coming to the newly allocated building, if they need assistance.

Community worried

Sylvia Mokoena, a Bethlehem resident, says that she’s shaken by the virus being in her town and that the community is “very scared”.

“We thought we won’t see it here but sadly it is here. It will be a wake–up call for the Bethlehem community – for us to stop going out into the streets and follow what is being said. As for the policewoman, we feel sorry for her and shall keep her in our prayers,” Mokoena says.

Another concerned community member, Mojalefa Tshabalala, questions the contract tracing methods used to find possible contacts of the confirmed case.

“It’s possible that she’s not the only person infected – she attended meetings with different departments. What about her family? Colleagues?” – Health-e News