383 positive Covid-19 cases in City’s health department

The metro revealed that as of July 21 there have been 383 positive Covid-19 cases reported among employees within its health department.

Some of these cases led to a number of intermittent closures of health facilities in the City, which include several clinics in Boksburg.

Boksburg Clinic, the Ramaphosa Clinic (which also serves as a Covid-19 testing site) and Reiger Park Clinic were among the clinics which are forced to temporarily shut down from time to time due to Covid-19-related cases.

According to the metro, the closure of the facilities were temporary evacuations to allow for the buildings to be decontaminated, and deep-cleaned.

“The close contacts and other colleagues, by virtue of being in the same team, were affected. Therefore, all close contacts were tested and quarantined in line with Covid-19 regulations,” explained the metro spokesperson, Themba Gadebe.

Gadebe said such closures did not result in health services interruptions, as the department used every means at its disposal to render health services to communities. These include operating health facilities in alternative municipal buildings or referring people to get services in the nearest facilities.

Ekurhuleni among Covid-19 hot spots

The metro and provincial government also admitted the infection rate shows an increase in Gauteng, particularly Ekurhuleni, among other regions. The City and Gauteng Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) launched the ward-based approach to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the province.

“To encourage behavioural change in communities experiencing cluster outbreaks, the City, in collaboration with CoGTA, will roll out a ward-based communication approach to change the mindsets of those who have not embraced the methods of Covid-19 prevention,” said Gadebe.

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