Gauteng health department worried by spike in new Covid-19 cases

The Gauteng health department is worried about the alarming rise of new Covid-19 cases in the province.

There were 8,881 Covid-19 cases recorded on Wednesday across SA, with Gauteng accounting for 5,111 of them — 58% of the total.

Of these new cases, the department said, most were recorded in the Tshwane and Johannesburg subdistricts.

Department spokesperson Kwara Kekana said non-pharmaceutical measures remained the best method of containing the spread of the coronavirus.

“The department urges all people in the province to do their part to protect themselves and to help contain transmission of the virus by adhering to the preventive measures — physical distancing of greater than 1.5m, wearing of masks, hand hygiene, avoiding public spaces and gatherings, and to seek care early if you develop symptoms,” Kekana said.

She said the province continues to monitor adherence to Covid-19 measures in communities, schools and other public spaces.

Kekana said the province was also intensifying its contact tracing efforts, especially in the hotspot areas.

TimesLIVE