Level 3 of the lockdown has witnessed confirmed coronavirus infections double in Gauteng, causing Gauteng Premier David Makhura to call for reinforcements to fight the pandemic in the province, before it peaks. Gauteng is the country’s most populated province at 15.2 million people. According to the Daily Maverick, the Gauteng government wants Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to ensure that resources are dedicated to employing more medical professionals and increasing the number of hospital beds available.

Premier David Makhura on Friday said “………we don’t want to wait until we have reached the level where the Western Cape is. We don’t want to wait for that moment,” as he called for additional support. As of June 11, Gauteng had 7,953 confirmed Covid-19 cases, the second-highest in the country after the Western Cape with 37,422. Hospital admissions and deaths in Gauteng have also risen swiftly since lockdown regulations were relaxed on June 1. The DM reports that there are currently 493 people in Gauteng hospitals for Covid-19 related illnesses, up from 256 a week ago.

Makhura said, “All modelling that is done at a national level and at a provincial level indicates that July is a critical month for us.” He added that he was “extremely concerned” about the spread of the virus in the Johannesburg and Tshwane CBDs.

Umm Muhammed Umar