Last week President Cyril Ramaphosa and Gauteng Premier David Makhura visited the quarantine facility at the Nasrec Expo Centre.
The president was told that the centre can accommodate 500 people while adhering to the rules of social distancing.
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Watch: Take a look inside the quarantine site at Nasrec
The president also inspected the facility’s sanitation stations including showers and bathrooms.
With the Covid-19 outbreak in South Africa projected to peak around August, the site forms part of Gauteng’s preparation plans to fight the virus.
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“I have been hugely impressed with the level of preparedness with regards to having a quarantine area. The country needs to be well-prepared because we are going to be reaching a peak somewhere later in August and September, where we will need lots of hospital beds,” said Ramaphosa.
Tasneem Motara, the MEC for Infrastructure Development said the facility will eventually accommodate 2 200 beds.
“We installed sanitation services and electricity.”
Motara said the construction industry also got onboard to support the project to ensure that the facility has 500 beds are available when stage 4 commences.
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“We still have pressing needs for medical equipment at this facility and these include ventilators, hospital beds and medical equipment. That is why we left the ICU and high care beds for the third phase. We need sponsors with deep pockets for funding,” said Motara.
Those who can assist can email covid19.donations@gauteng.gov.za or call 072 633 0515.
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