Provincial focus
Gauteng is intensifying efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and strengthen the public healthcare system
As the epicentre of South Africa's coronavirus (COVID-19)epidemic, Gauteng has been stepping up efforts to control the virus and strengthen the public healthcare system. Guided by national government, the province's response to COVID-19 has been swift and extensive.
It came as no surprise when Gauteng emerged early on as the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in South Africa.The province is the main arrival and departure point for tourists, making it particularly vulnerable to the disease. The arrival of the highly contagious virus in Gauteng was inevitable. But preparations started long before the first COVID-19 cases were detected, and exceptional efforts have been made to contain the spread in South Africa's most densely populated province.
Early preparations
Even before the first case was detected in Gauteng, government healthcare officials were already gearing up to ensure that the province was ready. Major hospitals such as Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, Steve Biko Academic and Thembisa Hospital were rapidly declared as designated hospitals for COVID-19 patients. In anticipation of a surge in infections, all other hospitals around the province also implemented measures such as creating isolation areas for suspected COVID-19 patients.
Coupled with this was the extensive training of healthcare professionals on how to deal with all aspects of treating suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Gauteng Command Council
Spearheaded by Premier David Makhura and the Gauteng Department of Health, a wide range of plans and interventions were
introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Shortly after President Cyril Rampahosa's declaration of a state of national disaster in March, the province adopted a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach, under the Gauteng Provincial Command Council.
The measures taken included enhancing the capacity of emergency medical teams; comprehensive screening at points of entry; continuously informing the public about the health risks of coronavirus and establishing a tracking, tracing and testing system.
A total of 9 000 community healthcare workers were trained as contact tracers, conducting screenings and tracking down contacts of COVID-19 positive patients.
Ramping up the response
The healthcare system in Gauteng has also been significantly strengthened, readying it for the worst case scenario of a so-called “tsunami” of infections. While the enforcement of strict lockdown regulations prevented this scenario, it was time for the province to embark on other important initiatives such as increased testing and a further expansion of the number of hospital beds available to treat patients.
Screening was quickly rolled out to all five districts of Gauteng, and testing was ramped up to cover thousands of people every day. Meanwhile, sufficient personal protective (PPE) equipment was acquired for healthcare workers and other essential workers. Donations from China have been critical to securing a steady supply of PPE.
The Gauteng Department of Health quickly set up a 500-bed hospital in the Nasrec exhibition centre, the first of its kind in South Africa.The hospital will be used as a quarantining and isolation facility. In addition, several hospitals were converted into COVID-19 treatment facilities, adding a total of 2 163 beds to the number available in the province.
Economy and food security
The provincial government has partnered with the private sector and non-governmental organisations to supply people with food and other essentials during the lockdown.These partnerships help thousands of households in disadvantaged areas, and are continuing to be ramped up to ensure that residents are not left hungry.
“Food security forms part of three-pillar strategy in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. The system must be about reaching the 20 percent of Gauteng residents who are food insecure. There should be no patronage networks and no political interference in all processes,” said Premier Makhura while visiting various food banks around the province.
He added that the province was doing an economic assessment on the impact of COVID-19, and has worked closely with national government to ensure that the various economic interventions announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa will benefit the people of Gauteng.