Faizel Patel – 08/06/2021
A Lenasia doctor has cautioned that the third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic is much more severe and has urged people to strictly adhere to the protocols to stay safe.
Dr. Nazeer Chopdat who is a physician at the Ahmed Kathrada Private Hospital in Lenasia and Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg was speaking to Radio Islam on Tuesday about the severity of COVID-19 and its devastating effects on communities and families in the country.
South Africa has seen a surge in COVID-19 infections amid the third wave with over forty thousand cases recorded over the past week while more than 57,000 people have died from the virus.
Dr Chopdat says there has been a significant increase in the number of cases at community level.
“Following Ramadan we had a significant increase in our communities. Immediately at that time the Azaadville community was really, really suffering and in big trouble. This has subsequently spread to Lenasia, Ennerdale, Eldorado Park, Vereeniging, Roshnee. So we are getting a lot of patients that are coming from that particular area as well. It’s not to create panic but rather to create awareness.”
Dr Chopdat says South Africans took a lot more precautions during the first and second wave of COVID-19, but with the third wave, they have let their guard down and become complacent.
“I think that we may have let our guard down a little bit and as a result we are seeing a much more increase in community households. So for example even in terms of admission, you are admitting the mother today, the father tomorrow , the granny the next day and the variant of the strain seems to be much more severe.”
Dr Chopdat says people must adhere to the COVID-19 protocols to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus.
“Seventy-four Muslim fatalities from COVID (in June) which is just too much. So, we turn to Allah first and thereafter we have to take our precautions. You have to wear your mask. We are fifteen months down the line and I still don’t understand why people have got a problem with wearing a face mask. Even if the mask doesn’t protect you, it protects your fellow person. So if you wear a mask and I wear a mask, we are protecting each other. Don’t cause harm to anybody else, put the mask on.”
Dr Chopdat says South Africa will get through the third wave of the Coronavirus if people adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions which include wearing of masks, social distancing and sanitizing among others.
“As individuals I think we all have a responsibility for ourselves, for our families, for the community at large. If we play our role, we can beat this, so there’s no doom and gloom, it’s a surge, it’s happened, it’s there. But I always tell people that there’s hope, as long as Allah has given you a breath in your body, you’ve got hope, so don’t give up. We as doctors certainly don’t give up, we try and do as much as we can to try and get the patient as best we possibly can.”
Dr Chopdat says people should stop from inflicting negativity about the Coronavirus protocols, adding that if they do not agree with the measures, they should refrain from opining their views on others.
Listen to the interview with Nazeer Chopdat
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