Covid-19 storm has arrived in Gauteng - Makhura
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has warned the province’s residents to brace themselves for the a surge in Covid-19 infections and fatalities.
He was speaking in Midrand on Monday.
Makhura said warnings around the situation in Gauteng, and the fact that it will soon overtake the Western Cape as the epicentre of the outbreak, have been sounded for quite some time.
Now the time has come for residents to brace themselves for the Covid-19 peak.
To date, the province has 36 895 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 174 deaths.
"As we are here today, that storm has arrived in Gauteng as we speak. It will take all of us to weather the storm and the critical issue is that we have to go through it," Makhura said.
He was speaking at an event with BMW South Africa and the Gauteng Department of Health which outlined a programme to add 700 beds to hospitals around the province.
Makhura said a strategic public-private partnership is required to combat the pandemic.
"The best way to put it down is through global response. It requires public and private sector collaboration and solidarity amongst human beings.”
Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku said the number of people in the government-run quarantine facilities are steadily rising.
"The active cases that we have in Gauteng which are not in need of medical attention, it means we still have to use self-isolation and quarantine approaches. We are seeing numbers increasing in our facilities, but we are looking forward in ensuring that we are dealing with the tragedy.”
He added that the elderly remain the most vulnerable.
"The people who are losing the fight against Covid-19 are the elderly part of our population and those with comorbidities.”