Gauteng COVID-19 cases double in just 10 days, breaching 100 000

In just 10 days, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Gauteng has shot up from about 49 000 to more than 100 000.

As the country’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased to 287 796 as of 13 July, those in Gauteng surged to 103 713, which accounts for 36% of the national total.

On Monday, 13 July, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced that the country’s death toll had risen to 4 172, with the Western Cape having recorded the highest number as 2 385 people have died.  

Mkhize said the rapid rise of confirmed cases in Gauteng was a “real issue”, vowing to pull his sleeves up.

ADDITIONAL BEDS FOR GAUTENG COVID-19 PATIENTS

He said additional beds would be allocated to hospitals for would-be COVID-19 patients.    

Eastern Cape follows the Western Cape with 709 deaths while Northern Cape has registered the lowest with 11 fatalities.

Recoveries stood at 138 241 as of Monday 13 July.

POLITICAL PARTIES SLAM THE ANC-LED GOVERNMENT

Political parties have chimed in, accusing the ANC-led Gauteng government, of not having solutions to curb the spread of COVID-19.The leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) John Steenhuisen took to his Twitter page and said:

“While (President Cyril) Ramaphosa spoke highly of how the government ‘constructed functional field hospital across the country’ last night (Sunday 12 July). This is the real state of field hospitals. With over 4 months to prepare, Eastern Cape and Gauteng have only one functioning field hospital between them.”

Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, EFF’s senior leader, said deaths in Gauteng would double to 200 000 in a week’s time, “Because nothing has been done to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”    

As the fight against the novel COVID-19 raged on, the South African government urged the country’s citizens to comply with the lockdown regulations.

“Our biggest weapon right now is behavioral change. Keep to social distancing, wear your mask, sanitize or wash your hands regularly,” said the South African government on its Twitter account on Tuesday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa re-imposed the ban on liquor and the curfew between 21:00 and 4:00, in a desperate bid to restrict the spread of COVID-19.

REMAINING PSL MATCHES TO BE PLAYED IN GAUTENG

Despite the soaring numbers in Gauteng, the chairman of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Irvin Khoza announced on Monday, 13 July, that the remaining PSL matches will be played in Gauteng.

The matches were suspended in March after the national lockdown was imposed in March. Khoza said during a media briefing that:

“We did receive a good pitch from KZN which was considered by the task team but unfortunately because of the application that was submitted we chose Gauteng and North West but as we speak now the PSL has resorted to sticking to Gauteng only because of the advantages that it gives.