168 died from Delta in Eastern Highlands, says official

By ZACHERY PER
A TOTAL of 168 people have been confirmed to have died as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant in Eastern Highlands over the past two months, a health official says.
Eastern Highlands health authority chief executive officer Dr Joseph Apa said the Covid-19 surge experienced in the province, which started on Sept 3 and ended last week, had claimed many lives and had impacted the local economy as well as the people and had the administration reeling.
However, Dr Apa said the positive sign was that only four Covid-19 patients remained in the main hospital’s isolation ward while another two had been admitted over the last two days.
“The cases and deaths have been reduced already and everyone has adhered to instructions and practised New Normal protocols which resulted in the lowering of the statistics,” he said.
Dr Apa said with the admission of two patients after the lockdown meant Covid-19 was still in the communities and one had to continue to exercise the measures, including getting vaccinated.
He said the province had lost leaders, academics, professional people and business people while the youngest fatality was a two-year old.
He said the surge in Eastern Highlands had brought together the people, companies, government agencies, churches, organisations and students.