A South African farming community about five hours\u2019 drive north of\u00a0Cape Town\u00a0has closed its only food store and its school after the residents agreed to a self-imposed stay-at-home order.<\/p>\n
Kliprand is in its second week of isolation after almost a quarter of its 250 residents tested positive for Covid-19.<\/p>\n
With the closest hospital about two hours away and a round trip costing about R400, for many residents the risks involved in trying to get the medical care they might urgently require are too high.<\/p>\n
In any case, the hospital may be full just when they need it – at the time the shutdown started, there were also only about 15 beds free.<\/p>\n
\u201cSelf-isolation is also to avoid a situation where other persons moving through the town become infected and spread it to further locations,\u201d David Joubert, a district municipality accounting officer, said by phone. \u201cThat would be irresponsible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inequality, among South Africa\u2019s long-standing challenges, has put a goal of inoculating two-thirds of the population this year in doubt.<\/p>\n
A slow vaccination rollout means only about 4% of the national population has had any shots, just as a third wave of infections accompanies the arrival of mid-winter.<\/p>\n
Sheltering-at-home has its own risks for this remote community. Ordering supplies online for delivery isn\u2019t a readily available option.<\/p>\n
Still, the effort made by Kliprand\u2019s residents has not gone unnoticed. Communities from some of the closest towns have donated canned foods, vegetables, bread and other essentials. Representatives from a school in Vredendal, to the south, drove almost 100 miles to donate items such as disinfectant, sugar and flour.<\/p>\n
\u201cKliprand is very small, an outbreak there touches everyone,\u201d said Riaan Van der Watt, the head of Vredendal\u2019s primary school.<\/p>\n