Gauteng Education MEC Lesufi does not have COVID-19

The Gauteng Department of Education denied rumours that MEC Panyaza Lesufi has come down with COVID-19 despite the official being in self-isolation.

Two Gauteng Department of Education staff members have tested positive for the virus in the last week prompting Lesufi to self-isolate in keeping with health protocols.

Lesufi has no symptoms, test and self-isolation a precaution

A spokesperson for the department Steve Mabona says Lesufi is awaiting test results but is not showing any symptoms of the virus.

“The MEC took a necessary precaution, that is taking a test and also self-isolating,” Mabona said. 

“He is currently in self-isolation awaiting the result, but we can assure that the MEC is doing well and is not sick so there is no need to panic.”

Gauteng government his by COVID-19 cases

Mabona has himself been tested for the virus and confirmed that the results were negative.

Gauteng premier David Makhura announced on Friday 12 June that over 300 employees in various provincial government department’s of have tested positive for COVID-19.

Makhura said that authorities were doing their utmost to ensure that standards of hygiene and sanitation.

Masuku also COVID-19 negative

With widespread testing being conducted on government officials and frontline workers Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku also confirmed a recent test for COVID-19. Masuku said that he had tested negative for the virus.

Masuku confirmed that a close colleague, his parliamentary liaison, had tested positive for the virus.

“We have since had my parliamentary liaison officer also tested positive he is in self-isolation,” Masuku told radio show POWER Drive on 98.7.

Gauteng province has the second-highest infection rate after the Western Cape with a total of 8781 confirmed cases. The province has seen 2948 people recover from the virus while 57 have died as a result of infection.

School infections plague Gauteng

Lesufi has been pressed into being abroad more often in recent weeks as he oversaw Gauteng’s preparations for the restart of schools.

The provincial education department was forced to close 56 schools in Gauteng after several individuals tested positive for COVID-19.

Premier Makhura was deeply concerned by a big spike in cases over the course of the last week.

Schools that reported COVID-19 infections have been closed for deep cleaning in keeping with directives passed down by the department of health.

The Gauteng provincial government are reportedly formulating a plan on how to minimise infections at schools before all pupils are allowed back.