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THIRD WAVE: RESPONSE TEAMS RECALLED

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LOBAMBA – Regional response teams have been recalled to their workstations in preparation for the third wave of the coronavirus.

This was said by the Ministry of Health when assuring the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the country was more prepared for the COVID-19 third wave, than it was during the second wave. Dr Simon Zwane, who is the Principal Secretary (PS) in the ministry, was responding to PAC Chairperson Phila Buthelezi’s question on whether the ministry was ready for the possible COVID-19 third wave. The chairperson further submitted that there were emaSwati who were due for the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Buthelezi said he understood that there was a 30-day window period for the second dose. He requested for indulgence of the ministry since nothing had been communicated about the arrival of the second dose.

Prepare

Responding, the PS informed the PAC that the ministry had in place 10 pillars to prepare and deal with the possible third wave. Among the pillars, he pointed out oxygen tanks preparedness. “We are working hard to ensure that oxygen supply is available as and when needed,” he said. Zwane mentioned that the country currently had two companies that produced oxygen. He further mentioned that the kingdom had bulk oxygen tanks at the Lubombo Referral Hospital  and The Luke Commission, where the oxygen was being produced on site.
“I can safely say we are far better off than we were in the second wave in as far as the supply of oxygen is concerned, and we believe that is ongoing work,” said the PS.

He said the installation of an oxygen generation plant was underway at the referral hospital. Zwane mentioned that in the short-term, there would be two oxygen generation plants and in the middle to long-term, about four would be established. The PS highlighted that he emphasised on the issue of oxygen because he had observed during the second wave, how there was a huge need for it and the challenges experienced in other countries. Dr Zwane said recently, the country had been recording low positive cases of COVID-19. He said this meant the virus circulating in the community was not dominant. He stated that a general observation across the globe, indicated that the kingdom was on a downward trend with regard to COVID-19 cases.

 

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