Pretoria West

MAY 14, 2021 • 012-842-0300

BMW CEO Peter van Binsbergen, Gauteng Department of Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi and Gauteng Premier The 150 bedded Covid-19 ward will help alleviate pressure from the David Makhura at the opening of the Covid-19 overfl ow facility at Bronkhorstspruit hospital. neighbouring hospital. Photos: Gauteng Media Metro ‘ready’ for third wave During the Gauteng provincial command council briefi ng on Friday, a slight increase in Covid-19 cases was fl agged as a ‘grave concern’.

Sinesipho Schrieber The National Institute of Communicable the province had a seven-day rolling spike Diseases (NICD) released a modelling in new cases but had not as yet reached the As the possibility of a third Covid-19 wave Covid-19 consortium report last week third wave threshold “but the increase in loomed, with Gauteng expected to be the Monday, detailing that Gauteng was expected infections is worrisome”. epicentre, Tshwane metro was said to be to be the hotspot of Covid-19 infections in the “Last week Thursday, we were sitting at “prepared” for any surge in cases. anticipated third wave. just under 300 cases but this week we are Tshwane health MMC Sakkie du Plooy Du Plooy said the region’s fi rst defence in at 688 new cases.” said a slight increase in new Covid-19 the fi ght against Covid-19 was strengthening Kawonga said the department infections was noted in the past week, but the vaccination roll-out programme by adding noted a lack of adherence to Covid-19 he remained confi dent that the region was more sites to ensure a smooth roll-out. interventions in communities, describing prepared for any major increase in cases. “While we have mainly been using two it as “a recipe for a bigger number of cases main vavaccination points in the region, we and could be attributed to a build-up of the hhaveave aaddedd a total of 91 non-medical sites third wave”. ssuchuch as community halls and a few old age Professor Bruce Mellado of the Gauteng hhomesomes tthat will be used during phase two. We premier’s advisory committee fl agged an are reareadyd for the next vaccination phase.” increase in mobility in the province to be He ssaida with a target for Covid-19 close to the level it was just before the vvaccinationaccina phase two, for those aged 60 years second wave which hit the province last year Gauteng Premier David Makhura. and ovover,e standing at more than 300 000, it December and early this year. would ttake some time to complete. “This is concerning as mobility attributes to year May to fi ght against any resurgence. ““WeWe wwant to encourage our residents to the number of transmissions. “We have about 4 564 beds available rregisteregister online. Booking is important and the “With high mobility, we have all the for Covid-19 infections throughout the ssoonerooner oone registers the better because phase elements for a resurgence.” province.” ttwowo wiwilll be a big programme and will take a Wits health sciences dean Professor Shabir With more than 5 000 staff appointed for llongong titimem to conclude.” Madhi predicted that the province might hit Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, DDuu PlooyPl said it was too early to say the the third wave threshold in about three Makhura believed they had the workforce rregionegion wwould have high cases during the third weeks. they needed to fi ght a possible infection wave eevenv though a slight increase had been The researchers and the government urged resurgence. nnotedoted iinn the past week. the public to adhere to wearing masks and On Monday, a report released by the “Although“Alth we had a cluster outbreak observe social distancing. NICD and based on fi ve scenarios looking at the UUniversity of Pretoria about two They warned against large social gatherings at the potential rise in infections, found that mmonthsonths ago, and another at a local high as a potential spike to infection resurgence. Gauteng would have the highest cases due sschoolchool ((Waterkloof) where sever