DURBAN NORTH has been identified as one of 37 areas around the country that has quarantine facilities which can be used as as part of government’s response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The announcement was made by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia De Lille today where she said: “One of the key tasks for the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has been to identify state-owned buildings which could possibly be used as quarantine sites in all 44 districts and eight metros. So far we have identified 37 properties in various provinces,” she said.
The Minister said the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works has advised that a number of properties are available for use as quarantine sites in Durban North, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay and Port Shepstone.
Read also – Durban graduate in China has no plans to come home, despite Coronavirus crisis
By 1pm today the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa has increased to 150, an increase of 34.
At today’s briefing, De Lille said some of the sites will be available to people living in informal settlements where there are no such facilities available.
She said teams from the department’s head office and in all regional offices have been visiting all districts to assess properties and this process was ongoing.
More on COVID-19 here – Bars, shebeens must close by 6pm under new rules
“Some of the sites have already been communicated to the Minister of Health. We have also communicated to Minister Mkhize that the department is engaging with all provincial public works departments and local governments to ensure that we are able to identify possible quarantine sites in all 44 districts and eight metros in cases where there are no available [public works] owned properties,” she said.
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za)
You can also sign up for news alerts on Telegram. Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5532.