Durban - The Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) in Pietermaritzburg had to transfer 10 residents to the government-funded quarantine facility at the Royal Showgrounds after they tested positive for Covid-19.
The old age home is also mourning its 12th death since the start of the lockdown after a 64-year-old resident died last Friday.
Chairperson of the ABH in Pietermaritzburg, Dev Naidoo, said the remaining residents were being treated “as though they are Covid-19-positive” and had been kept in isolation for their safety.
Two staff members also tested positive for the virus and were in isolation. Naidoo said one staff member was asymptomatic and had completed her 10 days of isolation at home, while the other had been unwell for the past nine days and was receiving medical attention while isolating at home.
“The home is operating as a quarantine site with all residents isolated in individual rooms. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who rallied to our call for donations,” Naidoo said.
ABH Pietermaritzburg had seven elderly residents die within two weeks last month.
Naidoo said this left many residents anxious and depressed.
The facility was at full capacity with 32 residents at the start of the lockdown in March, but had 20 residents and 24 staff members on-site throughout the lockdown period.
He said they were temporarily halting donations for fruit and vegetables as they had been supplied in abundance by donors recently.
“Amid the pandemic and the crisis we found ourselves in, the support both in cash and kind has been overwhelming. It reflects that in this tough economic climate, humanity still exists,” Naidoo said.
The Mercury