Twin Rivers Responds To Coronavirus

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TWIN RIVERS REHAB

My name is Piwe Kobo, I am a Social Worker at Twin Rivers Rehab. My experience at Twin Rivers has been an amazing journey in rendering support to our clients who come from all different parts of the world and with a vast spectrum of social and psychological needs.

“On the 31st of December, WHO announced that a pneumonia of unknown cause was detected in Wuhan. On the 30 January 2020, the outbreak was declared a public health emergency of International concern and on the 11 February 2020, WHO announced a name for the new coronavirus disease : COVID-19. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would go on a lockdown from the 27 March 2020 for 21 days due to Covid-19. Twin Rivers had to submit to those in authority and shut down on Thursday the 26 March 2020 till the 1st of June 2020. Most of the clients had started leaving treatment due to the fear of their boarders closing and they wanting to be with their families. Twin Rivers managed to successfully send the last few clients who were still remaining at the centre early hours of Thursday morning to Cape Town, before the cut of time of travelling, so they could be close to the airport.

HOW COVID-19 IMPACTING MY FINANCIAL SITUATION:

Corona Virus will cause a great impact on the financial state of businesses, which will then have an impact on the employees. How it will impact my finances is uncertain at this stage, but I am anticipating that it may be a difficult two months as my only source of income is from my job and I have a number of expenses to pay and family members to support. Our Director Mr. David Briskham has committed to helping all his staff members with their expenses as there will be no cash flow in the business and therefore will not be able to pay full salaries for the next two months. I am utterly grateful for the assistance that we will be getting from Twin Rivers at this time.

HOW COVID-19 IS AFFECTING MY FAMILY LIFE:

I unfortunately could not make it on time to be able to go home to be with my loved ones as my number one priority was to get all the discharge reports and other admin work complete before closing for the two months. It has been a very lonely time for me being by myself, but I am communicating to my family on a daily basis via WhatsApp video calls and I also created a family WhatsApp group, where we can be able to connect and encourage each other at this critical time.

With whatever is going on in South Africa with the Corona Virus, we need to remain positive and continue to do what we have been told by those in authority to the core, so we can continue to fight this pandemic together as a country.

I have mentioned the challenges that Covid19 has brought along, but we should not focus on the challenges only, but let us focus all our energy on the challenges. Let us also keep ourselves and others safe by staying at home. I am a firm believer in God and I believe this too shall pass and Twin Rivers will be able to stand on its feet again soon.

Piwe Kobo

TRR-2020