The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga is concerned that government could lift lockdown too soon in the province because of fluctuating and inaccurate daily Covid-19 data.
Mpumalanga is the only province where the number of infections either increases or reverts to a lesser number every day. For the last four weeks, official positive cases have been fluctuating between 20 and 23. This causes confusion and panic amongst the residents.
So far, the provincial Department of Health has managed to screen around 487 000 people, only 11% of the Mpumalanga population and tested less than 5 000 (0.09%). By May 1, the province reported 36 positive cases with 0 deaths.
Health MEC Sasekani Manzini and her department have on several occasions published incorrect Covid-19 stats, and the residents of Mpumalanga do not know which infection numbers to believe.
The DA is concerned that false, inaccurate or incomplete data could mean that lockdowns could be lifted too soon, which could have a catastrophic consequence for the people of Mpumalanga. It will also eliminate any gains made that the initial lockdown has had and the sacrifices that have been made will amount to nothing.
The MEC is also causing confusion and panic with the reported number of infections being erratic.
It is evident that more testing needs to be done especially now that a dental assistant in the Mapulaneng hospital in Bushbuckridge has tested positive for Covid-19.
Accurate daily stats are essential for the people of Mpumalanga to enable us to flatten the curve as it provides relevant information needed for health professionals to make informed decisions regarding the management and fighting of the virus.
The DA-run Western Cape is the only province where we have a real and accurate picture because of the high levels of testing that have taken place in the province for some time now. That’s probably the reason why many positive cases are from that province as they hide nothing.
The Mpumalanga department of health should be providing daily, accurate information per district regarding:
- Positive cases
- Recoveries
- Deaths
- Screening
- Testing
Mpumalanga province does not even have a Covid-19 Provincial Central Command which includes all political parties.
The DA will write to Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane and the MEC to request accurate and daily updates as well as to request for all political parties to be included in the Provincial Central Command.
If there is no response within 7 days, the DA will escalate it to Parliament.
It appears that the Mpumalanga Government has something to hide and they are now playing russian roulette with our lives.