Six Gauteng health officials test positive for coronavirus

Six members of the Gauteng Health Department’s war room team have tested positive for the coronavirus. The department confirmed this in a statement.

Gauteng Health Department Spokesperson Kwarra Kekana says all those who tested positive are self-isolating at their homes.

“The Gauteng Department of Health wishes to confirm that six members of the Gauteng health COVID-19 War room have tested positive for COVID-19. Among those positive includes the head of the department Professor Mkhulile Lukhele. All colleagues are doing well and are self-isolating at home.”

The department says it continuing to increase both infrastructure and human resource capital to deal with the increasing numbers of cases.

Gauteng has overtaken the Western Cape as South Africa’s COVID-19 epicentre. The province now has 75 015 confirmed cases after recording 3 527 new infections overnight.

Six members of the Gauteng Health War Room test positive for COVID-19 including the Head of the Department, Prof Mkhululi Lukhele.

Clarity on Graves in Gauteng Municipalities. pic.twitter.com/Lk4tx1S4Tv

— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) July 9, 2020

Graves

Earlier, the department refuted claims that there are 1.5 million graves in the province that are being prepared for COVID-19 deaths.

Kekana, however, said the province has to ensure that there is adequate burial space.

“We understand that the subject of death is an unfortunate matter to engage in. However, ensuring that there is adequate burial space in the province, unfortunately, forms part of the reality government must contend with in the battle against COVID-19,” he has said.

Below are the latest coronavirus stats in South Africa: