By Kaya 959 News
Part of the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital is expected to open on Monday.
Gauteng Premier David Makura confirmed that hospital management has been given the go-ahead to re-open parts of the hospital that were not damaged by the fire.
In April, 700 patients were evacuated and the hospital shut after a fire broke out at the medical facility.
Despite firefighters putting out the blaze, it reignited later that same evening. All patients were transferred to other facilities in Gauteng.
“Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital is one of the top institutions in the province. Its closure has had a severe impact on our health system,” Makura said.
He said there has been a terrible delay in re-opening the hospital, which is completely unacceptable.
“Any more delays will cause severe risk,” he said.
READ: Charlotte Maxeke Hospital closure raises concerns
Oncology building set to open
The oncology building is ready to open and the first patients will be received from Monday.
Makura said the re-opening of blocks 1 and 2 will be immediate as well as parts of blocks 3 and 5. Block 4 will take a little longer to reopen due to the level of damage.
The DA’s Jack Bloom welcomed Makura’s announcement.
“I hope that the hospital’s ICU beds are made functional as soon as possible as they are desperately needed to save lives as a tsunami of Covid-19 cases flood Gauteng hospitals,” he said.
Meanwhile, 10 police stations across Gauteng were closed for decontamination in the last 24 hours after reporting positive Covid-19 cases.
SAPS reported that the Booysens, Sophiatown, Fairland, Roodepoort, Carletonville, Midrand, Jabulani, Cleveland, Cullinan and Lenasia police stations had to close temporarily for a deep clean.
READ: Union not surprised by Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire
Last month, SAPS minister Bheki Cele, said just over 600 police officers have died from COVID.
He said since the start of the pandemic last year, 618 officers have succumbed to COVID.
Yesterday, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases reported an increase of 16 078 new COVID-19 infections.
“A further 148 Covid-19-related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 59 406 to date,” the NICD said.
Gauteng recorded 9 521 new cases.
“The Gauteng province accounts for the majority of new cases (59%), followed by the Western Cape (12 %),” the NICD reported.