The St Dunstan’s Easter Sports Festival, a highlight on the Benoni sporting calendar for what would have been the seventh year, has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Aidan Worrall (festival chairperson) and Michael McConnachie (rector) said:
“The restriction on crowds not exceeding 100 has compelled us to cancel this year’s Easter Sports Festival. It is most regrettable and unprecedented, but understandable in terms of the increasing rates of infection of the Covid-19 virus in South Africa.”
An estimation of between 3 500 and 5 000 spectators were expected to attend this year.
The 42 high school and 14 primary teams who were competing were left disappointed when the event was cancelled.
The festival organisers added: “We wish to thank you – the schools who agreed to attend, our sponsors and vendors and all those who anticipated another successful event. We will return deposits to those schools who complied with the requirements of participation.
“The health and well-being of all is of paramount importance and we thank you for your continued support and, in this time of national crisis, for your understanding.”
The St Dunstan’s Easter Sports Festival will commence in April 2021.
This is not the only local event to be cancelled or postponed since the President’s announcement of a National State of Disaster on Sunday night. The City Times spoke to various organisations and businesses to gauge how the pandemic is affecting Benoni.
Other events that have been cancelled or postponed are:
• The Sinomsebenzi network party – postponed to May 22.
• Diabetic Support Group meeting (March 19) Fifth Ninth Avenue – cancelled.
• St Dunstan’s Easter Sports Festival – cancelled.
• All sports at Benoni Northerns – postponed until further notice.
• Old Bens all club training, juniors and seniors – postponed.
• TAG fund-raising event (March 21) – cancelled.
• Caxton Car Boot sales – postponed until further notice.
Although the car boot sale has been postponed, the markets in the Bunny and Bokkie parks have not confirmed any postponement.
Janine Richardson from the Bunny Park market on Monday (March 16):
“Up to now no decision has been made to cancel the market based on the fact that the President banned organised gatherings of over a 100 people, but no ban to our knowledge has been put on leisurely and commercial events,” she said.
“We will, however, monitor the situation and if need be, cancel the event.”
If the event does go ahead as planned, hygiene awareness will be highlighted with:
– Signage at the entrance – maintain social distancing.
– Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, cover mouth and nose with elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
– Sanitiser and hand rub available at the entrance and in bathrooms, soap and hand rub supplied for the bathrooms.
– Warning to all crafters and shoppers to stay at home if feeling unwell.
• Nebula Cinemas and Village Walk Retirement Village theatrical productions – postponed until further notice.
• Benoni Northerns Bridge Club – closed with immediate effect.
– The Teams of 4 competition – postponed.
Taking precautionary measures:
• Hotel: Kopanong Hotel & Conference Centre have implemented the following precautionary measures:
– Hand sanitizing stations have been placed in all main reception areas and areas that are being frequently used by their guests.
– Staff have also been made aware, of any infectious disease, to employees, contractors and visitors.
Churches:
• Mountain of healing and deliverance ministries – follow the health care instructions provided by the government.
• House of the Lord – considering online streaming or providing more services to reduce masses in one facility at the same time.
Gyms:
• Planet fitness:
– Sanitisers around the gym including the toilets and everyone is putting on their gloves when working.
– Cleaning the equipment after a client’s session to enable the next client to use it.
• Trinergy:
– Providing open hand sanitiser.
– Staff members clean the equipment every hour.
• Doctors’ rooms:
Staff at a local GP practice had one of their busiest days on Monday, following the National State of Disaster announcement by the president on Sunday night.
One of the doctors, who wished to stay anonymous, said their phones were ringing off the hook with queries and questions about coronavirus and what precautions people should take.
His message is clear: Do not panic.
“We are running the practice on appointments only and have cancelled surgical procedures at the practice for now, with the aim of keeping our waiting room as clear as possible,” the doctor said.
“Patients with flu-type symptoms are being advised to wait in their cars until we can attend to them and then they are taken directly through to a doctor’s room.”
He said the best advice is for people to practice good personal hygiene, especially with hand washing and to make use of sterilisers.
While the practice had received no formal communication or direction around Covid-19 from the National Department of Health, they have received helpful communication and guidelines from Ampath and were putting these in place.
Frequently asked questions answered in the Ampath communication:
How is the virus spread?
It is spreading from person to person through respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes. While not the main way Covid-19 spreads, it may also be possible to get infected by touching a surface or object that is infected and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may be mild or severe and typically develop in between five and 14 days after becoming infected. Symptoms include a fever, cough and flu-like symptoms. The elderly and those with chronic conditions of the heart or lungs are most at risk and will require hospitalisation.
How to protect yourself
Avoid contact with sick people, don’t touch your eyes, mouth or nose, wash your hands regularly with soap and sanitiser (at least 60% alcohol). Masks have not been proven to prevent infection. If you have travelled to an affected country or come into contact with someone infected, and develop symptoms within two weeks, self-isolate and get tested.
Get the flu jab
It is highly recommended residents get themselves vaccinated for influenza as this will provide some protection against Covid-19.
How to get tested
Phone the Covid-19 hotline on 08000 29999 if you show symptoms to arrange for someone to come to you to be tested. This means you do not have to go to your doctor’s rooms where you could infect the staff and other patients. Ampath laboratories are performing testing by means of a highly accurate test that detects the virus’s genetic material. Doctors can send patients for testing with an Ampath request from and additional forms required by the Department of Health, for a throat swab to be collected for the test. You cannot be tested at a laboratory without a referral from your doctor.
Hospitals:
Netcare is prepared for Covid-19 in South Africa. Prevention protection measures are in place at their facilities.
Netcare Group chief executive officer, Dr Richard Friedland, said calm, caution and absolute vigilance are required to ensure that any public health risk, including the latest Covid-19 coronavirus, is managed responsibly.
Prevention protection measures now in place at Netcare Group facilities, Netcare hospitals, Medicross medical and dental centres, Netcare and Medicross day hospitals, Akeso mental health facilities, National Renal Care (NRC) dialysis units, and Netcare 911 have implemented the following measures with immediate effect:
• Every person entering facilities clean their hands.
• All persons entering our facilities are verbally screened for Covid-19 risk at the main points of entry as the first line of defense, and do further screening where indicated.
• Gazebos or tents are being erected at entrances to emergency departments and main hospital entrances, where our staff members will conduct the screening.
• At facilities with multiple entrances, some entrances may be closed to ensure adherence to hand cleaning and screening.
• Deploying ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection robots in those of our hospitals that do not as yet have their own, as soon as possible. These mobile robots have been proven to be extremely effective in identifying and destroying viruses, bacteria and fungal spores.
• Restricting visiting times in our hospitals and the number of visitors allowed visiting a patient at a time.
“This will enable us to take the appropriate precautionary measures to ensure that our staff and others at the facility are safeguarded while you are being assessed, treated or admitted until it can be confirmed whether you have tested positive or not for Covid-19,” said Friedland.
“This is now a time for all South Africans to stand and work together in the knowledge that despite the myriad of challenges we continue to face, this too we will overcome.”
Clinics:
The Ekurhuleni metro wishes to inform its residents that primary health care facilities rendering Saturday extended hours services will be closed on March 21, as it is a public holiday.
Residents are advised to use the Community Health Care (CHC) centres and hospitals, which are operating for 24 hours.
Facilities that will be closed include: Barcelona clinic, Brakpan clinic, Duduza clinic, Emaphupheni clinic, Geluksdal clinic and Springs clinic.
Community health care centres that will be open are: Daveyton Main Community Day Centre, KwaThema Community Health Centre, Nokuthula Ngwenya Community Health Centre and Phillip Moyo Community Health Centre.
Hospitals in the East region will remain open which include: Far East Rand Hospital and Pholosong Hospital.
Outside of Benoni:
• Orchid Show (March 28 and 29) – cancelled.
• The EFC 85 event (April 4) at Grandwest, Cape Town moved to EFC performance institute in Paulshof, Sandton.
• Over 50s World Cup Cricket Tournament – cancelled.
• EFFSC TUT Rand – the People’s University has suspended academic activities at all TUT campuses until further notice.
• Craig Newman – CEO Johannesburg Expo Centre and Rand Show Director:
As one of this country’s longest running events, we’ve been through a lot, standing side-by-side with our fellow South Africans. We are an integral part of the community and its spirit. After listening to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address yesterday and in the best interests of our community, we have decided to postpone the show. The event will be rescheduled at a later stage and will be done in consensus with government.
The Rand Show would like to thank our partners and all sponsors for their understanding and continued support during this time.
We believe this decision to be in the best interest of our nation.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the postponement, but remain committed to hosting the show at a time when all South Africans can attend and enjoy the Rand Show, without any concern for their personal health or safety.
• Sun International:
Upcoming shows – postponed,
All Sun International properties remain open for business.
In addition to ongoing cleaning schedules, additional enhanced cleaning and other practices for housekeeping and food and beverage areas will be provided:
– Hand sanitisers available at all entrances.
– Enhanced cleaning of high touch point areas such as door handles.
• Emperors Palace:
Certain events – postponed.
Unconfirmed precautionary measures for places and events:
• Profix Scaffolding Marathon.
• Willowmoore Park Stadium.
• Methodist Homes.
• Lakeside Mall.
• Northmead Square.
• Northmead Mall.
For information regarding the events that are postponed, please contact the relevant outlet.
Benoni City Times remains in contact with many event organisers regarding the Benoni postponed events.
Ekurhuleni warning on their Facebook page:
There is no door-to-door testing, home testing or home disinfection for Covid-19.
Be aware of criminals posing as health professionals using this hoax to access your house or property to rob you.
If one gets a request for Covid-19 testing or home disinfectant kindly notify SAPS, security companies and your street crime chat immediately so that they can act on them and save someone from being robbed.
The government is calling on everyone to:
• Wash their hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitisers for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or flexed elbow.
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
(See online/column for all implemented changes and precautions)
In the president’s speech he added the following:
“Fellow South Africans, this is the most definitive Thuma Mina moment for our country.
“I have great trust that our people will respond positively to this call to common action.
“This epidemic will pass.
“But it is up to us to determine how long it will last, how damaging it will be, and how long it will take our economy and our country to recover.
“It is true that we are facing a grave emergency.
“But if we act together, if we act now, and if we act decisively, we will overcome it.”
Keep up with the Benoni City Times for more news on the outbreak, what changes are being implemented and what is being cancelled or postponed.
The first case of Covid-19 can be traced back to late last year in China. On March 17, South Africa had 62 confirmed cases since the first confirmed case on March 5.
