Richards Bay is virus high risk
The concern surfaced at the quarterly Industrial Emergency Planning Committee meeting held recently at the civic centre
GIVEN industry’s large employee numbers and significant international travel links, Richards Bay could be a prime location for the spread of the coronavirus.
The concern surfaced at the quarterly Industrial Emergency Planning Committee meeting held recently at the civic centre.
While some companies indicated a level of preparation, with protocols in place in the event of the virus spreading to the workplace, industry representatives were instructed to submit their contingency plans to the City of uMhlathuze as a matter of urgency.
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‘We need to know what every industry is doing, to ensure an effective combined strategy,’ said meeting chairman Zilindile Masango, Head of Section: Public Health and Emergency Services.
‘In the event of any confirmed case of infection, the Department of Health will not only need to know who the person is but also all those who might have come into contact with the patient.
‘The department would also need to know the full travel details of visitors who entered – including connecting flights – and those with whom they came into contact at the workplace, said Masango.
The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) representative at the meeting allayed fears of ships bringing corona contamination into the port, since the virus can be detected within 14 days and the voyage from China or other ports in the Far East takes about 22 days, which gives ample time for screening and testing.
The discussion followed a presentation by Mphilisi Ntengenyane, Infection Prevention and Control Co-ordinator of the Department of Health in the King Cetshwayo District.
He gave a detailed description by of the history, spread, symptoms and treatment of the virus.
‘It is important that everyone shares the same, correct facts of the coronavirus and has the right understanding of the situation.
‘There have been many false assumptions and rumours of new victims and these must be disregarded unless they come directly from the KZN Department of Health,’ said Ntengenyane, adding that only the laboratories of the NCID (National Centre for Infectious Diseases) were internationally accredited for testing of the virus.
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