​Lerato Mailoane
The Gauteng Provincial Government is ensuring that Gauteng is ready for the worst-case scenario by preparing public health infrastructure for an eventuality that the COVID-19 infection rate may peak.
These measures include adding an additional 2,163 beds to accommodate Covid-19 patients, and increased screening and testing. 
"We have cleared some of our existing hospitals and declared them COVID-19 facilities. This has helped us to make available 555 standard beds and 308 ICU beds. 
"We are also putting up new permanent wards in Kopanong, Jubilee, Chris Hani Baragwanath and George Mukhari Hospitals. This will add 800 new beds which will be used for different purposes. This intervention will help speed-up our existing plans to increase capacity in these facilities using alternative building technology," said Makhura.
Addressing the public on the province's COVID-19 response plan, Makhura said the modest flattening of the curve of infections during the lockdown, which began on March 27, was giving the province space to undertake this massive preparatory work. 
"We have significantly improved contact tracing, scaled up the capacity to screen and increased the number of people tested. 
"Out of the 6 431 identified contacts who were traced and put under isolation or quarantine, 2 394 have now been cleared of COVID-19. The remaining 4 037 remain under medical surveillance by our team of tracers until they are cleared.  
"Since the 31st March of 2020, our Community Health Workers (CHW's) and health professionals have screened 196 421 people, and out of whom 2 591 people were referred for testing and were indeed tested.
"The screening and testing is focusing on areas of high density of contacts, (whether in suburbs or townships) and high vulnerability," said Makhura.
He said MEC for Health, Dr. Bandile Masuku, unveiled the first phase of the NASREC facility which will have 500 new beds. 
In addition, this week we received a generous donation of 30 000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Bank of China. This will go a long way towards ensuring that our health workers are protected. 
"We currently have six weeks' worth of supply based on the current usage and we will continue to procure more stock," he added.