The third wave of COVID-19 caused a spike in funerals week over week in South Africa’s legislative capital, Cape Town, on Tuesday.
In the most recent seven-day reporting period, 638 burials were performed in Cape Town cemeteries, up from 488 the week before, according to the city.
Official numbers showed that the number was over 300 by the end of June, according to Zahid Badroodien, a member of the Cape Town Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health.
“What we’re seeing now is identical to the previous two rounds of COVID-19 infections, when the number of people who died skyrocketed.”
Badroodien went on to say that one cemetery alone had 215 burials in the last week, averaging 30 every day.
According to him, this means that there will be a lot of foot movement in and out of the cemetery, which will raise the risk of close contact and put more pressure on administration.
He did say, though, that Cape Town has enough space to handle burials.
Cemetery visits are currently forbidden in the city to allow cemetery personnel to focus on the increased number of funerals.
According to the city, visits will most likely resume on August 10 if the COVID-19 workload is reduced.
Since Sunday evening, South Africa has loosened COVID-19 requirements and shifted to a lower lockdown level, although infection and fatality rates in the city remain high, according to the statement.
Badroodien urged citizens, especially those who have already been vaccinated, to continue to follow health regulations and to register for vaccines if they are qualified.