22 Jul 2021

Tutume District Health Management Team (DHMT) is actively looking for additional isolation space to cater for increasing COVID-19 patient numbers.

 Acting DHMT head Ms Debzi Mfolwe told BOPA in an interview that in Tutume only four beds  had been set aside for isolation.

 The Tutume isolation center currently had nine patients  and  Gweta one, she said.

  Ms Mfolwe said to date the area had registered 2 857 positive cases out of which 233 were active as well as 19 deaths.

 She said the District Commissioner’s office had been engaged to assist with additional isolation space. Ms Mfolwe revealed that rapid testing had also slowed down at some health facilities due to shortage of personnel exacerbated by the pandemic. On the COVID-19 vaccination programme, Ms Mfolwe said although inoculation of the 45-54 age bracket had commenced, administering of second doses to the first group of age 60 and above  still continued.

She explained that there had been some delays in administering the vaccine for the first cohort as people were not turning up.

Ms Mfolwe however said through community mobilisation, DHMT had managed to reach many people resulting in an increased number wanting to take the jab.

She said the district had so far received a total of 3 734 Astrazeneca doses and 15 825 Sinovac. Ms Mfolwe said out of the 7 840 Sinovac doses received in the second batch, 1 555 people had so far been vaccinated.ends