While many people in Komani have hunkered down at home during the national lockdown, the threat of contracting Covid-19 remains a worry for many people who still have to work during the time of isolation.
“I am very scared,” said Thembakazi Kalipha, who works at a supermarket.
For the 34-year-old mother, the news that she would be reporting for duty during the lockdown time was a worry for herself and family.
“I take a taxi to work every day and it is packed. I am very scared of being infected.
“I was unhappy about hearing we would have to work because I did not know whether I would be putting myself and my family at risk.
“I live with my children. At the end of the day, I do not know if it is even safe for me to hold them.”
Kalipha said although some of the safety measures put in place at her workplace gave her peace of mind, she wondered if the lockdown would really work.
“The town is full. People are walking up and down. I just wish more would be done to enforce the rules,” she said.
[pullquote]“I take a taxi to work every day and it is packed. I am very scared of being infected.[/pullquote]
Dr Nomthunzi Magida-Mancoba, who owns a private practice in Komani, said the prospect of being in the front line was of Covid-19 fight was frightening.
“It is scary. We are all scared because the vaccine for it is not yet available,” said the mother of four.
As an employer, Magida-Mancoba said she had taken precautionary measures to protect herself, her staff and customers.
“I have employed an extra cleaner at my practice. She does spring-cleaning daily. We also bought N95 masks and we sanitize everyone coming in.
“We try to teach everyone about the virus; to maintain social distancing rules. Our employees had a flu vaccine injection and we also encouraged our patients to get one.
“At home the same thing – I sanitize and remove all my clothes as I get in. My five-year-old stands with the sanitizer at the door. I shower or bath before doing anything. Social distancing is not practical at home. You get hugs even when you run away and you share a bed with your spouse.
The 43-year-old mother also felt that many people did not take the lockdown seriously.
“Most people are not taking the virus or the lockdown seriously. I plead with those people and the public at large to take this virus seriously. It is here now, let’s fight it together. Anyone can get it.”