​Lerato Mailoane
18 March 2020 
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura has outlined provincial government's comprehensive plan to deal with the outbreak of coronavirus. 
Briefing journalists on Wednesday, 18 March 2020, Makhura announced the names of the Members of the Executive Council (MECs) who form part of the 'Covid-19 executive council steering committee' that will be led by MEC for Health, Dr. Bandile Masuku - in a fight against Covid-19 in the province.
Makhura said the MEC will be joined by MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mbali Hlope, MEC for Roads and Transport, Jacob Mamabolo, MEC for Human Settlements, Co-operative Governance and Traditional affairs, Lebogang Maile, MEC for Infrastructure Development, MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko and the Director-General of the province, Phindile Baleni will provide administrative support to the team.
 "This response is necessary as the province has largest number of cases standing at 61 people testing positive for the Coronavirus.
"Gauteng is the most vulnerable province, as it is a point of entry in aviation. The province has the highest population. The province is densely populated and has the highest transport network that connects to the rest of the continent. Our Capital City, Tshwane is the second largest diplomatic capital after Washington DC," said Makhura.
He said the province has two points of entry, namely O.R. Tambo International Airport and Lanseria Airport which serve many people who visit South Africa and travel to many destinations in the world.
Following the President's announcement, the Premier met with the provincial executive council, district and metro mayors, unions and various other sectors. 
"We will introduce a number of measures in consultations with all stakeholders, particularly in the transport sector," he said.
In addition, Makhura will meet with political parties on Thursday and will also meet with business and religious leaders on Friday.
MEC for Health, Bandile Masuku said the work did not only start now.  He said the province would set up a war room, monitoring and surveillance.  He further added that his department was and  planning to increase the bed capacity at public hospitals.
"We will escalate places for safety for quarantine in all five districts. We have met will clinicians across the province. We will circulate a circular to promote the measures all health officials must comply with," he said.
Designated hospitals for isolation of confirmed cases are currently Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, the Steve Biko Academic Hospital as well as Tembisa Tertiary Hospital.
"We are also strengthening our capacity to undertake surveillance for COVID-19 at Provincial and District levels. Two-hundred and fifty-nine (259) contact tracers have been trained," said MEC Masuku.