Gauteng contributes eight per cent to the national number of active Covid-19 cases.
In presenting the Gauteng Provincial Command Council’s weekly update, Premier David Makhura also said the province is responsible for 19 per cent of the national total of recoveries.
“As of this week, the number of confirmed cases is 2 400, we have 1 729 recoveries and 644 active cases,” he said.
He added that by May 15, 37 450 contacts had been identified through contact tracing and 92 per cent of contacts had been monitored.
Also read: Collection of antiretroviral meds down by almost 20 per cent in Gauteng since lockdown started
Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku announced that a response team for health establishments has been established.
When a positive Covid-19 case has been confirmed, the team will:
- Provide support to management.
- Activate contact tracing, including laboratory services, and a decontamination company will respond to the health establishment where the positive case has been confirmed.
- Establish the contacts of the health worker who tested positive.
- Arrange for counselling and debriefing of the health worker affected, colleagues and testing of contacts.
- Arrange for quarantine for the health worker and contacts if required.
- Conduct a scan of the affected area and determine the scope of the area to be decontaminated.
- Identify alternative areas for the continuation of services.
#COVID19 | The Gauteng Provincial Command Council Weekly Update: 21 MAY https://t.co/iEvd0uYrAU
— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) May 21, 2020
Hot spot areas:
To address hot spot areas, a ward based Covid-19 response team was established.
The team is a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral team which will involve local groups like NGOs, CPFs, public health experts and leaders to lead and drive intervention programmes.
The interventions will include regulation enforcement, social security issues and health issues, such as public health education programmes, screening and testing and hand hygiene.
Also read: Slow return to normal for City of Johannesburg as service centre reopens
Level four regulations:
Giving a report on the enforcement of level four regulations, Makhura said that the province had inspections at businesses open under level four to ensure full compliance with the World Health Organisation’s health and safety protocols
“Employers are required to provide a workplace risk assessment plan that must include the provision of screening and testing facilities, sanitary and social distancing measures and measures to protect vulnerable employees,” he said.
He reported that the province met with 160 CEOs to evaluate compliance with the level four protocols and assess readiness for level three.
“There is a need to strike a balance between public health and economic imperatives.
“We also agreed to continue working together with various business sectors to prepare for level three,” said Makhura.
He said it was also agreed that due to the integrated nature of the province’s economy all metros and districts will move together from one level to another.
Also read: Parents can decide not to send their children back to school
Education:
Discussing the province’s readiness for Grade 12 and Seven learners to return to school, Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, reported that the total number of Grade 12 and Seven learners expected to return to school on June 1 is 3 000.
He said that 1 752 schools have the capacity to undertake the cleaning themselves.
“We also have 577 schools that do not have the capacity to undertake the cleaning themselves.
“These schools received a donation from Bidvest which will donate its services to deep clean the 577 schools,” he said.
He added that the 331 schools vandalised during lockdown includes seven schools where the administration blocks were burnt down.
“Three mobiles per school have been delivered for administration purposes,” he said.
“Assessment and job cards for the 313 schools have been completed and supply chain management processes are underway for minor repairs.
“The assessment shows that there are sufficient classrooms available at these schools for the return of Grade 12 and Seven learners.”
He said that cleaning and disinfection of schools will be coordinated through districts which will become command centres.
“The department issued specifications, guidelines and standards for cleaning and disinfection of schools.
“Schools with functioning SGBs will clean and the department will appoint contractors where SGBs lack capacity,” Lesufi said.
Also read: Covid-19: Government prepares for reopening of school on June 1
Lesufi explained that classrooms must have personal protective equipment, social distancing must be accommodated and wearing of masks must be observed.
“All SGBs received an allocation of R15 000 each to start cleaning and they have eight days for deep cleaning.
“Only then will they submit a letter to the district for inspection of cleanliness.
“This will be followed by a certificate of occupation,” said Lesufi.
He added that no visitors/strangers will be allowed on school premises.
District permission will be required.
Schools must also ensure that only one exit and one entrance gate are used and all other gates must be locked.
“Social distancing markings must be set up outside schools as children enter the school grounds.
“They must wear masks and they will be sanitised.
“If they do not have a mask, they will be provided with one.
“The child’s temperature will also be taken,” he said.
Lesufi said sports fields will be cordoned off and each school will be linked to a clinic for medical guidance.
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