A total number of 56 people travelling from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus, the Eastern Cape department of health revealed on Thursday.
The department said 9 524 people were transported from the Western Cape between April 29 and May 4 through the Tsitsikamma and Aberdeen borders.
And that, to date, 2 090 people have been tested on the Western Cape and Eastern Cape borders while 29 516 people were screened.
There were also 78 people who had travelled from Cape Town who were intercepted in Elliotdale. Another 110 people – who had also travelled from the Western Cape – had to be re-routed to Mpekweni and Fish River in Port Alfred for screening and testing by health officials.
As of Thursday, there were 929 confirmed cases in province, 388 recoveries and 18 deaths in the Eastern Cape.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba said she was concerned by the high number of people travelling from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape.
“We understand that interprovincial travelling is allowed but having so many people who have tested positive for Covid-19 coming to the Eastern Cape undermines the good work that we have been doing and continue doing.
“Why the 56 people were not tested in the Western Cape is beyond me. We need all provinces to work together in containing the spread of this virus,” Gomba said.