SAEPU IS CONCERNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT’S READINESS TO DEAL WITH THE SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19

The South African Emergency Personnel’s Union (SAEPU) is concerned about government’s readiness to deal with the second wave of Covid-19. Our concern is triggered by the number of deaths and positive cases reported per day recently and the report that the country has crossed the 1 million mark of positive cases. It is unfortunate because people are on holidays and the regulations are not followed while on the other side health workers are already dealing with long waiting periods to accept patients as facilities are full.

The other worrying factor is the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as we have dealt with the challenge during the first wave and managers from other provinces who intimidate and force workers to take patients with confirmed Covid19 cases without PPEs. We strongly condemn this reckless behaviour and do not want such cases to be reported again.

We are very much concerned because the second wave is here, and we do not know the state of readiness of government. We believe that the government is not ready to handle the second wave because we have witnessed a disaster which happened during the first wave, with the assurance from the Health Minister that they are ready. At the time of the implementation, it was crystal clear that they were not. That on its own puts our frontline workers at a serious risk of being infected and losing their lives.

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Issued by SAEPU

For inquiries Contact

SAEPU President

Mpho Mpogeng

083 354 1121