Gauteng Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku says that the province is preparing for the worst of the coronavirus and that it hopes to be ready for a peak in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
Speaking in an interview with 702<\/a> <\/strong>on Monday (29 June), Masuku said that the provincial government is most concerned about shopping malls as well as central business districts.<\/p>\n This is because of higher movement in these areas which give rise to a risk of higher infection, he said.<\/p>\n He added that the government was concerned about the deliberate breach of lockdown regulations, not only by the taxi industry<\/a><\/strong> but also by ordinary citizens.<\/p>\n “People are even starting to deliberately organise parties and deliberately organising weddings. This is something we are trying to actively discourage.”<\/p>\n Masuku said that the province may also look an introducing a stricter lockdown<\/strong>. He said that the provincial government was specifically looking at the introduction of an ‘intermittent lockdown’ which has been used in other countries.<\/p>\n “(Under an intermittent lockdown) there will be a period of time where (society) will be open and there will be a period of time where there will be a lockdown to contain the infection.<\/p>\n “It has helped in other countries and the literature has shown that it could be one of the options. It is matter that it is under discussion and we are actually considering it going forward.<\/p>\n “If we have the healthcare sector collapse in Gauteng, it generally means that the whole care system in the country has collapsed. So we have to do almost everything to protect and save lives going forward”.<\/p>\n A new epicentre<\/strong><\/p>\n In an effort to tighten government\u2019s grip on the impending surge of Covid-19 cases, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will deploy ministers and deputy ministers to every district of the country to support the work of provincial health authorities.<\/p>\n Writing in his weekly open letter to the public, Ramaphosa said that this will be in addition to getting a line of sight on specific challenges in the districts.<\/p>\n Gauteng is likely to face increased scrutiny as Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has warned that the province will soon become the coronavirus epicentre of South Africa.<\/p>\n #COVID19<\/a> | GAUTENG COVID-19 SUB-DISTRICT BREAKDOWN<\/p>\n The total number of COVID-19 cases in Gauteng is 36 895, with 9 378 recoveries as at 28 June 2020. #GAUTENGCOVID19<\/a> #COVID19SA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WTjhGRhDXn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 GautengGov (@GautengProvince) June 29, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n