​Thembisa Shologu
Gauteng is currently accounting for more than 60% of new COVID-19 cases in the country.
Premier David Makhura said that the provincial government had intensified contact tracing, screening and testing teams to meet the current demand as part of interventions to manage the third wave.
"Residents are urged to cooperate with the contact tracing teams. Contact tracing and adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions are powerful weapons in controlling the spread of COVID-19," said Makhura
He further noted that the current variant was more transmissible than the previously circulating viruses making it easier to catch through person-to-person contact.
The premier said the virus was everywhere in the province with one in every three persons in Gauteng that test for COVID-19 likely to be positive. High mobility remains a key contributor in the rising numbers.
On Sunday, 27 June 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that due to the burden of infections in Gauteng, travel in and out of the province for leisure purposes was prohibited for the next 14 days.
In addition, the Provincial Government has stepped up its vaccination rollout programme; last week (Wednesday, 23 June), government launched its mass vaccination drive for the basic education sector.
"On 5 July, vaccination will open for law enforcement officers and other security personnel. The registration process for 50–59-year-olds will begin on 1 July and vaccination of this group will start on 15 July.
"This will be followed by people working in key economic sectors such as mining, manufacturing and the taxi industry," he said.