​Gauteng News 
Premier David Makhura has thanked the healthcare workers and other frontline staff who put their health and their lives at risk to care for the ill and vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We convey our heartfelt gratitude to our healthcare professionals in both the public and private sector, for the outstanding service to the people of our province during this most difficult time in the life of our democratic nation," Makhura said on Monday.
The premier was delivering his State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre in Johannesburg.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the burden placed on the health system, Makhura said healthcare and frontline staff were able to ensure that the health system does not collapse and contributed to the delivery of high-quality healthcare.
Since 2020, the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and containing the spread of coronavirus became the number one priority of government.
"As we meet here today, the COVID-19 pandemic is under control and the massive vaccination programme has broken the chain between infections, hospital admissions and death."
Although many people continue to get infected with the coronavirus, Makhura said evidence shows that most of those who are vaccinated are more protected from progressing to severe disease or death. 
"We know that armed with vaccines, masks, hand sanitisers, better ventilation, physical distancing, and vigilance, we are winning the battle. This pandemic is getting contained and it could soon become only endemic."
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 32 hospitals were re-purposed to address the shortfall of beds in the province. 
Makhura said government has delivered 4265 functional beds, of which 1600 had been delivered as permanent additional capacity to the provincial health system.
"The investment in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic prevented our health system from collapsing while providing an opportunity to bring about efficiency in the delivery of our public health care system."
To vaccinate as many people as possible, the Gauteng government and social partners continue the vaccination drive targeting workplaces through the 'Jabs on the Job' campaign.
Many employers have partnered with government and are setting up vaccination sites at their business premises to ensure the economy returns to full activity.
The Gauteng government continues to expand the vaccination programme targeting school communities starting with areas with low vaccine uptake. Mobile vaccination teams have been allocated to schools across five districts in the province.
The programme caters for learners aged 12 years and older, their family members, school staff and community members that are not yet vaccinated.
As at 20 February 2022, over 8,6 million vaccines have been administered, with 5.3 million people receiving one dose of either Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer and 4.4 million people have been fully vaccinated in Gauteng. 
Makhura said the province will now focus on tackling unemployment through economic recovery and reconstruction which have substantially been eroded by the pandemic. 
"After so much death and destruction of lives and livelihoods, it is time to rebuild and do so with the greatest sense of urgency, single-mindedness and coordination demonstrated during our emergency response to COVID-19."