​Lerato Mailoane
The number of new COVID-19 active cases has gone down considerably in recent weeks but Gauteng Premier, David Makhura has warned that the province is not out of the woods yet as infections increase in Tshwane and Sedibeng.
"Yes, we are in Level 1 but we want to continue to be vigilant. We do not want a second wave. We do not want to find ourselves in the peak we went through in July.
"We can only do so by being vigilant, by working hard, by being on the ground," Makhura said at the launch of the Lenasia South district hospital on Friday.
To date the number of patients in hospitals has decreased considerably to 2,138 from a peak of 7,193 in July which has left the majority of beds allocated to coronavirus patients unoccupied but Makhura has warned residents to remain vigilant to avoid a second wave of infections.
"Covid-19 is not over. We are doing very well in reducing the numbers, in containing the spread. Johannesburg, you have done very well. There was a period when Covid-19 in Johannesburg was totally out of control," said Makhura.
He said he was worried about infections in Tshwane and Sedibeng and would send health workers in the affected communities.
"The numbers in Tshwane are much higher than they have ever been on Covid-19, because there was a period where we were very worried about Johannesburg and then we got very worried about the west of Gauteng, the West Rand, what was happening in the mines. 
"We got worried about parts of Ekurhuleni… we deployed lots of resources working with the municipalities," he said.
Makhura further noted that the rate of infections in parts of Tshwane and Sebokeng, and Evaton in Sedibeng, were worrying and state resources should be devoted to slowing the spread in those areas.
"We are continuing to improve our capacity. Even if we were to have our second wave; even if the second wave does not come, we want better healthcare facilities.
"Let us continue… whether the peak comes or not, we still need good medical care," said Makhura."
At 33%, Gauteng has the country's highest number of Covid-19 positive cases. Active cases stand at 37%, or 20,300 people. It has recorded 3,960 deaths, slightly behind the Western Cape's 4,100 deaths. In the last seven days, the province recorded an average of 309 positive cases a day, down from a peak of 5,196 a day in July.