By Kaya 959 News
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed in Gauteng to help enforce COVID-19 regulations.
Acting Health Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, said Gauteng is becoming one of the areas of concern for the department.
She said the recent spate of community protests has helped to spread the virus.
The minister added that it was concerning that Gauteng had surpassed infection numbers recorded in the first and second waves.
Soldiers will assist hospitals, ensure people are wearing masks and help with contact tracing.
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COVID-19 count increases
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Sunday that South Africa’s COVID-19 case count increased by 13 155.
“The majority of new cases are from Gauteng (66%), followed by Western Cape (8%). KwaZulu-Natal and North West each accounted for 5%; Free State accounted for 4%; Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape each accounted for 3%,” the NICD said.
SA now has 1 823 319 confirmed Covid-19 cases, a total death count of 58 702. The NICD said there are 117 114 active cases and 1 647 503 recoveries.
The NICD said there was an increase in hospital admissions in Gauteng, Northern Cape, the North West and Free State.
“These provinces have reached the case threshold for the third wave,” it said.
City of Johannesburg mayor in self-quarantine
Meanwhile, City of Johannesburg mayor, Geoffrey Makhubo, has tested positive for COVID-19. CoJ spokesperson, Mlimandlela Ndamase, said Makhubo has gone into self-quarantine.
“Gauteng and indeed Johannesburg are officially in a third wave and residents are urged to take the necessary non-medical precautions seriously and to ensure they wear masks, maintain social distance and limit movement in compliance with the Level-3 regulations currently in place,” Ndamase said.
He said Makhubo will continue to monitor and provide guidance on work currently being carried out to contain and manage the spread of Covid-19 in the City whilst in self-quarantine.
The province remains in the midst of the third wave of the coronavirus having reported 24 012 new infections at the weekend.
