A delegation from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has arrived at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
The SANDF has been deployed to assist in the province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes as Gauteng is battling to contain the third wave of COVID-19 infections.
HAPPENING NOW:
Military medics who will lead the contingent at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital have arrived.#SABCNEWS pic.twitter.com/m77dzAuSXh
— Chriselda ‘Babes We Ndaba’ Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) June 21, 2021
The Gauteng Department of Health says the SANDF will augment the staff complement in the province. More than 5 000 people are currently hospitalised in Gauteng with more than 12 000 deaths having been recorded since the start of the pandemic.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura says Gauteng is on fire when it comes to COVID-19 infections and has appealed to people to take the lockdown regulations seriously.
“This place is burning with coronavirus and our message is very very clear that everywhere around the province there is no exception the test positivity rate is extremely high now, we want to say to people that the chances of getting infected are extremely high wherever you are.”
Media briefing on arrival of SANDF members:
Gauteng COVID-19 deaths have increased 80% week on week
Senior Researcher at the CSIR, Dr. Ridhwaan Suliman, says the number of people dying from COVID-19 in Gauteng has increased 80% week on week, and the situation in the province is of major concern.
Dr. Suliman says more than 5 100 people are being treated in hospital for COVID-19 in Gauteng alone and the province could still face even greater pressure as the third wave intensifies.
Gauteng is the province hardest hit by the third wave and accounts for around two-thirds of new infections.
Unpacking increasing COVID-19 cases in Gauteng with Prof. Bruce Mellado:
Dr. Suliman says the province was to some extent spared during the first and second waves and this may have led to lower immunity in the province ahead of the third wave.
He says the situation at hospitals in Gauteng is a worry.
“I think of concern what we are currently seeing is a significant rise in the number of reported deaths in Gauteng. It is accounting for more than half of the total number of reported deaths reported nationally. So in Gauteng, we’ve reported 62 new deaths per day on average over the last week and that figure has increased 80 percent week on week.”
Concerns over lack of hospital beds in Gauteng amid increasing COVID-19 cases:
Dr. Suliman says new admissions in Gauteng hospitals last week were up by 36% compared to the previous week.
“New admissions in Gauteng were just over 3000 last week, up 36% compared to the week before. Of concern is the number of patients currently in hospitals around Gauteng due to COVID-19. There are over 5 100 patients in hospitals in Gauteng and of those, over 1 100 are in intensive care facilities.”
Latest COVID-19 cases in South Africa:
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