Stats SA staff laid low by Covid-19
“We were not aware that anyone had Covid-19. There was no indication”
About 180 staff members employed by Statistics South Africa have been placed in isolation after four of their colleagues tested positive for Covid-19 at a local hotel.
Stats SA spokesperson Trevor Oosterwyk said the employees were attending a training course at St George’s Hotel in Pretoria, in preparation for a nationwide census.
“We are training people, all across the country virtually and directly.
“We have a census around October in 2021, and part of the process of running a census is to do a pilot, which is planned for January next year.”
He said training was held to prepare for the upcoming planned census pilot project.
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“However, we were not aware that anyone had Covid-19. There was no indication,” Oosterwyk said.
He said the national statistical service of South Africa had ensured that half of the hall where training was held was ensured not to surpass 50% capacity, while adhering to other Covid-19 protocols such as social distancing, sanitising and wearing face masks.
Oosterwyk said the training course could not be halted due to Covid-19 and was currently proceeding virtually.
He said staff was asked to stay in their rooms after finding out the tests.
Oosterwyk said it was also unclear where the staffers could have been infected with Covid-19.
He said the training for the Census project started last week, and was due to end on Tuesday.
This comes as Tshwane residents were warned of a potential rise in Covid-19 cases.
Tshwane MMC for health Sakkie du Plooy said that official statistics indicated potential for a sharp rise in the number of active Covid-19 cases in the Tshwane area.
“Although this trend can be attributed to various reasons, it is generally agreed that a behavioural change by residents will be essential to prevent a full wave of the pandemic hitting Tshwane, which will have disastrous consequences for the health system and the local economy.”
Du Plooy said places where alcohol was consumed often provided “super-spreading” opportunities.
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“Note that an event is deemed to be a super-spreader event when a single person passes on the virus to more than eight people.
“As soon as people become relaxed they do not wear masks, adhere to social distancing or maintain the required hygiene measures,” he said.
Du Plooy has since reminded residents that the virus was easily spread through tiny saliva particles.
“Due to the closeness of people at these events, the infection spreads easily. This was evidenced at various recent rage events for matriculants, such as the one held in Ballito in KwaZulu-Natal, where many people were found to be infected and must now spend two weeks in quarantine.”
He said the uncontrolled spread of the virus in Tshwane could lead to the national government imposing stricter lockdown measures on the capital city with obvious disastrous implications for the local economy.
“Therefore, it will be important for all Tshwane residents to be vigilant and actively work to prevent the spread of the virus.”
Du Plooy called on residents to make a special effort in Covid-19 hotspot areas: ward 56 (Hatfield, Muckleneuk and Brooklyn), ward 3 (Elandspoort, Danville, Proclamation Hill and Kwaggasrand) and ward 46 (Lynnwood Manor, Lynnwood Glen, Menlyn and Newlands) where residents and visitors need to be extremely careful.
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