Ntombizakithi Ngidi, a nurse at Tygerberg Hospital, is the Western Cape’s second nurse to succumb to COVID-19. The news was announced by Premier Alan Winde on Friday, May 8.
Ngidi is one of the country’s 11 latest mortality cases as a result of the virus.
“This is the second nurse we have lost to Covid-19 in the province, following the death last week of Petronella Benjamin, who was one day away from her retirement,” Winde said.
Winde broke the news just as the African National Congress (ANC) made its call for the Western Cape to remain on full lockdown and not Level 4 of the soft lockdown.
“The ANC wants special lockdown measures tightened during these extraordinary times to lower the fast growth in death, hospitalisation and confirmation rates in this province,” said Danville Smith, ANC spokesperson.
According to Smith, the Level 4 regulations allow for large groups of people to be exposed to possible infection at shopping centres, factories and farms.
“Mass congregation of people during time to walk or practise for sport in the mornings has become a source of further concern. This might cause more infections in a strained province.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said they would visit the Western Cape to find a way to curb the further spread of the virus in the province.