GEORGE NEWS - There has been an easing of pressure on cemeteries and George Crematorium following the decline in the number of deaths as the second Covid-19 wave is subsiding.

Irene Vermeulen, owner of the crematorium, said instead of working 24/7 as they were forced to do during the peak in December and early January, they are now operational "only" from 06:00 till 22:00 daily.

George Municipality confirmed that sufficient space is still available at the York Street cemetery until the new extension is ready for burials. 

The cemetery has been filling up fast since the outbreak of the pandemic, especially during the second wave, and the municipality is currently extending the cemetery to an adjacent property.

Community Services director Allen Paulse said the new cemetery will be ready well ahead of the old site reaching capacity.

"The new cemetery is 95% complete and undertakers will be allocated blocks from this week." Paulse said the outlay, expansion and establishment of the new site have been completed. "Only minor finishing still needs to be done. The first burials are expected to take place there towards the end of February or early March."

George Herald earlier reported that the number of burials at municipal cemeteries had increased sharply, from 64 burials in October last year to 94 in November and 176 in December. 

Most of these were confirmed Covid-19-related deaths.

A total of 28 Covid-19 deaths were recorded in the district in the seven days from 31 January to 7 February compared with the previous seven days when 49 deaths were recorded.

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