NELSON MANDELA BAY - FUNERAL PARLOURS ARE STRUGGLING TO COPE AS SPIKE IN COVID-19 INFECTIONS CONTINUE TO GROW

Nelson Mandela Bay Metro's funeral parlours are struggling to cope due to the big spike in coronavirus cases in the city.

Over 1,600 people have died from COVID-19 in the metro since the pandemic started.

The bodies are piling up, contributing to mortuaries' overall workload.

"We are doing plus-minus 220 funerals per week," said Thabo Msizi.

"The busiest day is Saturday. We are having about 74 funerals, its a strain."

Workers at funeral parlours have to stare the virus in the face every day and it's putting a lot of pressure on them.

Once the job is done, staff go home exhausted, not knowing whether they may be next to contract COVID-19.

Nelson Mandela Bay has officially been declared a hotspot, and President Cyrl Ramaphosa has announced tough new restrictions here to curb the spread of the virus.

via - ENCA