Home ‘We need extraordinary measures’: Premier hints Gauteng will go beyond Level 2

‘We need extraordinary measures’: Premier hints Gauteng will go beyond Level 2

South Africa recorded more than 8 000 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, and a majority of them came from Gauteng. The most densely populated province in the country is being badly affected by the third wave, and on Saturday, Premier David Makhura conceded that further interventions – going beyond Level 2 – will be required.

Will Gauteng bring in something more than Level 2?

Makhura was delivering a public address at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, alongside Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane. The pair struck a sombre tone, as they continued with their inspection of a vaccination centre. Between the two public officials, a stark warning was issued for locals.

According to Mr. Makhura, the Gauteng Government has asked national structures to review ‘extraordinary measures’ for the region. The Level 2 laws, which were brought in only a fortnight ago, seem to have had little impact in preventing the spread of coronavirus. Kubayi-Ngubane also echoed these sentiments.

‘Extraordinary measures’ now required to quell GP third wave

As the temporary replacement for Zweli Mkhize, MKN will have a huge say in what happens next for Gauteng. She went on to confirm that the national health department ‘has noted the concerns raised by provincial officials’.

“We are looking at extraordinary measures, what we have at the moment is not adequate… We have heard the province we have to help in terms of responding and therefore, the department of health will make recommendations”.

“When you look at the past three days, you would see that the numbers are reflected in Gauteng are a worry and there are areas in terms of specifically Johannesburg where we need to make a serious intervention in terms of that.“

Latest COVID-19 cases in Gauteng

The next few weeks – or possibly months – could be a rough ride for Gauteng residents. As much as the government wants to avoid local lockdowns, their hand may be forced by the data. Six in every ten new infections are being detected in GP, and as we’ve seen in previous waves, the north-easterly province is feeling the impact of a resurgence early.



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