Funeral Parlours Under Strain Odette Venter Local Funeral Services Are Under Great Strain Due to Deaths Because of the Third Covid-19 Wave
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JULY 9, 2021 012-842-0300 Innovative restaurants beat Covid lockdown blues While the adjusted level 4 Covid-19 lockdown has hit many Pretoria restaurants, some outlets are adjusting their business models to ease the impact on their businesses. Whether that means putting extra care into their takeaways or outperforming the local supermarket, local eateries are doing what they can to stay afl oat. The owner of three local popular restaurants, Forti Mazzone, was one example of this. Mazzone, who owns Forti Too restaurant in Lynnwood Bridge Centre, Forti Grill and Bar restaurant and Biccs restaurant, said his secret for success was to come up with innovative techniques to meet the changing needs of his customers as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. Blos Café in Faerie Glenn built a padstal (farm stall) outside their premises to boost business. There they sell anything from delicious cakes to burgers. In the photo is Blos Café employee Roger Matonda. Photo: Ron Sibaya Funeral parlours under strain Odette Venter Local funeral services are under great strain due to deaths because of the third Covid-19 wave. “We attended to 32 bodies this past weekend alone,” said Sonja Smith, managing director of Sonja Smith Elite Funeral Group. She signed no less than 231 death certifi cates in June. “I estimate that the number of deaths increased by about 60% We try to work in the past fi ve weeks, and is electronically and by increasing around 20% daily.” telephone as much as Smith, who has just recovered possible. from Covid-19 herself, said 11 staff members had been in isolation Sonja Smith at once recently. At the moment, two staff members were in isolation and two in quarantine. “Last week, fi ve staff Derick Putter, Jannie van der Walt, members had to work right John Masombuka, Wynandt van through Wednesday night. Wyk and Jan Mashele are staff “It is not the bodies that members of Sonja Smith Elite place our staff members Funeral Group. They had to work at risk of contracting the 231 right through the night last week virus, but the deceased’s Wednesday, since 11 fellow staff family members who come death certificates members were in either isolation or in to arrange funerals, while were signed by quarantine. also being positive and not Sonja Smith in June. being aware of it at the time, or are awaiting test results. “We try to work electronically and by telephone as much as possible,” she said. hours on Friday afternoon. He said they might have “to look He said staff members are Meanwhile, Tshwane continued With 10 branches in Centurion, “We cannot bury bodies without at increasing our storage facilities under pressure and work longer to experience an increase in active Midstream, Pretoria, Johannesburg, death certifi cates,” Smith said. to keep bodies until they can be hours since assistance with bodies Covid-19 cases, which exceeded East- and West Rand, Smith said She said there is “also major buried or cremated”. is also needed during the night the 26 000 mark this week. they face operational challenges congestion at crematoriums”. “Sometimes an entire family has sometimes. As of Monday, July 5, there as well such as not having enough Smith said what also adds to the virus and all members had been “Our fi gures rose with about were 26 796 active cases in vehicles available for the demand. the congestion, is that there is admitted to hospitals. 60% in comparison with the fi rst Tshwane. “There is also major congestion sometimes no-one available to “Then there is no-one to arrange and second wave, and we attend This was an increase of at doctors’ practices who don’t make funeral arrangements due to the funeral. Then we have to on average to fi ve or six cases per 2 127 cases from the previous day. have enough time to sign death family members being in isolation store the body and wait until day.” Since last Thursday there has certifi cates. or in quarantine themselves. arrangements can be made. Both Smith and Olivier said been an average increase of “I’m aware of a doctor in Eddie Olivier, general manager “We are much busier during this deaths didn’t pertain to elderly between 3 021 and 4 842 per Montana who sat and signed death of Grobbelaars Funeral Services in third wave than during the fi rst and people only anymore, but people day with the highest increase on certifi cates for four and a half Riviera, echoed Smith’s sentiments. second waves,” Olivier said. of all ages are being aff ected. Sunday. 2 | PRETORIA MOOT REKORD JULY 9, 2021 www.rekord.co.za NEWS Third wave takes heavy toll on health workers units at the hospital closed for Sinesipho Schrieber decontamination last week. With the majority of the population “We have not just worked yet to be vaccinated and hospitals extra shifts and longer hours, but bursting at the seams battling the intensity of those hours has against rising Covid-19 infections, increased too, both emotionally the toll on health workers has and physically and being in PPE become “unbearable”. for those long periods. Rekord spoke to some of the “I am very worried that the health workers dealing directly doctors are burning out. with the patients affl icted by the “Thankfully, management is pandemic. doing their best to recruit extra Pseudonyms are used to protect locum doctors and nurses who can identities. ease the burden. “But these processes take time,” Van Tonder said. The combination of a new variant, Delta, which was more transmissible and coronavirus fatigue in communities could have Certainly, as the population’s Photograph for illustration only. Mbali Mnisi received her vaccination in Pretoria. Photo: Ron Sibiya. coronavirus numbers have led to lack of adherence to health regulations, and contributed to increased, so have the rapid rise in infections. numbers of infected staff. “This variant has a change on its spike protein, which is the part that Mandy van Tonder Where to get vaccinated the virus uses to enter human cells. Mandy van Tonder* is a “This allows the Delta variant Are walk-ins allowed at Eersterust Community professional doctor at Steve Biko virus to spread like crazy. Noxolo Sibiya vaccination sites? Healthcare Centre - corner of PS academic hospital and confi rmed “No amount of planning The Gauteng Department of Fourie Drive and Hans Covedale can make pandemic waves go If you live in Pretoria and that hospital admissions have been surrounds and you want to get Health announced that walk- Road West, Eersterust higher than ever before. smoothly, but I am really proud of ins would be allowed at various West the resilience and hard work of the vaccinated, below is all the info “Certainly, as the population’s you need. vaccination sites for people within Weskoppies Hospital - Ketjen coronavirus numbers have staff . the categories specifi ed. Street, Pretoria West “They have come through for the The Tshwane metro has 27 increased, so have the numbers of vaccination sites. If you are a healthcare Atteridgeville Hall - corner of infected staff . public despite their fears.” practitioner, in the education sector Ramokgopa and Hlahla streets, Van Tonder believed to curb These include a mobile bus that “This is a double-barrel hit on or over the age of 60 you are Atteridgeville a high number of deaths the goes to sites vaccinating teachers. the existing staff as they fi ght allowed to walk into the nearest CBD hospitals would need more nurses The sites are spread throughout to cope with increased patient vaccination site and get your jab. FF Ribeiro (Old Council and doctors to ensure the sick the various regions. numbers and reduced staff at the “While the walk-ins are allowed Chamber) - Sammy Marks Square, would be attended to. Who can vaccinate? same time,” she said. According to the Department of and are expected to accelerate the corner of Lilian Ngoyi and Madiba The staff members testing “Currently, our biggest challenge is staffi ng.” Health, the following groups are mass vaccination programme, it streets, Pretoria CBD positive saw one of the high care allowed to vaccinate: is still important that qualifying Centurion - Healthcare workers (nurses, residents continue to register to Olievenhoutbosch Hall doctors, paramedics) avoid possible congestion at our Laudium Community Healthcare MAMA MARIAM - People 50 years and older vaccination sites,” said Tshwane Centre. 100% SATISFACTORY - Educators – teachers, principals mayor Randall Williams. North - SAPS Police offi cials “In line with the direction from Hobhouse and Brits streets, PTA I was poor and deep in debts. At one point I Like us on -SANDF members (set to start the provincial government, no one Pyramid Hall - 30 Fanie van thought of ending my life. I tried many Facebook (Rekord), on July 8) will be turned away in Tshwane.” Rensberg Street, Pyramid healers but no one helped me. I only to see what’s What do I need to register? Here is a list of nearby Noweto happening in your - Full name and surname vaccination sites in Pretoria: Refentse Clinic - 3194 Tambo wasted money until I saw people giving Moot community - ID/Passport Road, Stinkwater, Hammanskraal testimonies about Mama Mariam. I booked Tshwane Rehabilitation Temba Community Health and take part in the - Contact number an appointment. She read all my fortunes Hospital - corner of Dr Savage and Centre - Stand 2475, Temba, conversation. - Medical aid card (if on medical and showed me my enemies. I was aid) Soutpansberg roads Hammanskraal. shocked. She cleansed me from all bad luck. She charged me R200 for everything. My husband came back after 2 days and he confessed.