Dr Zweli Mkhize: South Africans to attend funerals only if they have to
Dr Zweli Mkhize says people don’t observe social distancing at funerals. The Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize says people attending funerals are at risk of contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19) due to cultural behaviours and rituals observed at such funerals. He says people don’t observe social distancing at funerals despite the messages encouraging them to do so in order to avoid contracting the virus.
“Social distancing remains one of the key strategies to curb this pandemic. Unfortunately, we have observed that people hug and hold each other at funerals (as part of giving comfort), they cry and cough next to each other, pass a spade to each other to pour the sand, they wash hands in one basin, and have a buffet meal where they use the same spoons to dish up.”
Mkhize has urged people attending funerals to refrain from such activities as there could be a person at the funeral who has COVID-19. Mkhize’s concerns comes as the number of positive cases in South Africa continues to rise, with the number of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 now at 3 034.
Mkhize says that the number of covid-19 tests conducted on a daily basis has increased. South Africa has conducted a total of 123 008 COVID-19 tests. These include retests. A retest is done to confirm a person’s COVID-19 results or to check on someone’s recovery.
The Minister is urging the public not to frown upon health workers when they approach their homes. We are aware that some citizens have rejected our health workers when they approach them at their homes or in public places. We want to assure the public that testing for COVID-19 is for your own good and also for those you love and must protect.
In other news – Family of actor Charles Maja has been fined R5000 for breaking #LockdownSA rules
Skeem Saam actor Charles Maja on Saturday was laid to rest at his home in Ga-Maja outside Lebowakgomo in Limpopo. The funeral service, however, was not without drama, with the actor’s family being fined after more than 50 mourners attended the funeral service. Read more
Source: The Citizen
