Happy New Year to you all!
For many, 2021 is going to be a much better year than 2020, but sadly the continuing effects of COVID-19 will mean that others do not have the luxury of looking forward to brighter, healthier days.
To date, the Coastal Kindness Track & Trace Team have traced and supported 158 positive cases in our area, as well as approximately 362 close contacts. There are still five active cases, one person in hospital and one at home on oxygen.
As this work is carried out on behalf of the Department of Health (DOH), we are required to methodically log close contacts and report to the DOH on a regular basis. Redmond has provided the necessary computer analysis to enable us to report in a very professional manner, which has been highly commended by the powers-that-be at our regional DOH.
The peak in cases in November 2020 put a great strain on our medics and support staff, our T&T Team, and our community at large. But with large doses of determination and kindness, we made it through.
Dr Galpin is now able to offer rapid antigen testing, which gives results while her patients are with her in consultation. This is a great asset as treatment, isolation and quarantine can be initiated faster and thus with more chance of containment.
Some have been left severely depressed and anxious, physically impaired, or emotionally drained by living with the strains of lockdown, not to mention those facing the stresses and pain of being infected. For many, too, the effect of no work and no pay has been catastrophic.
So, now things are a little quieter (crossing fingers and holding thumbs), the T&T Team will have less of a functional role and therefore hope to extend their purpose by addressing the needs of those adversely affected by COVID-19 in whatever ways they can.
Our grateful thanks go to the Track & Trace Team: Carol Taggart, Suzie, Dot, Lynn, Charlotte, Ntombisia, Patsy and Daphne.