22 Oct 2020

A contact tracing exercise has ensued in Mosojane in the North East District after two residents tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

The two were contacts of a 65-year-old woman of Mosojane who died at Nyangabwe Referral hospital on October 12.

Speaking during the North East District COVID-19 task team meeting on Wednesday, District Health Management Team coordinator, Ms Kelebeletse Mokobela, stated that 12 people were established as contacts of the deceased.

She stated that the two who tested positive were in isolation while their contacts were in quarantine awaiting results.

Ms Mokobela highlighted that following the passing of the woman, the DHMT team went to Mosojane to educate the family and funeral parlour on the proper handling of the corpse.

She stated that the Ministry of Health and Wellness revised guidelines on proper handling and burial of COVID-19 patients, which provided that the corpse could be kept in a mortuary for a while unlike previously where they were buried immediately.

She said COVID-19 could be contracted through sneezing, coughing and any exchange of body fluids, but it was highly unlikely that the corpse would transmit the virus because it was covered in a shroud before placed in the coffin.

However, she indicated that the coffin was sanitised thoroughly and there was no contact with the corpse.

Ms Mokobela stressed that people should observe protocols at funerals by maintaining social distancing and wearing masks.

North East District chief public health officer, Mr Mokganedi Lemogang, reiterated that it was important that people maintain social distancing at gatherings.

He highlighted that the district compliance team observed that during the funeral of the Mosojane woman, people distanced themselves from the coffin but failed to keep a distance from one another.

He indicated that failure to maintain social distancing could pose a danger to the attendants in a case where someone in the crowd might be positive with COVID-19 unknowingly.

He stated that the funeral parlour undertakers observed the protocols and came in full personal protective equipment (PPE), which was commendable.

Mr Lemogang further stated that there was no viewing of the corpse, adding that the common washing of hands at funerals was also barred.  ENDS