State has identified sites for Covid-19 quarantine
The government has identified 37 government-owned properties across the country to be used as quarantine sites in its war on coronavirus.
The pandemic, which spread rapidly to 157 countries, has hit the global economy and sent share prices plunging.
The government declared a national state of disaster on Sunday as it moved to contain the viral contagion.
Public works and infrastructure minister Patricia De Lille told reporters on Thursday that 37 quarantine sites had been identified, and that interdepartmental teams were travelling around the country to assess the properties. She said that she was consulting with health minister Zweli Mkhize.
De Lille also said the government had reached out to the private sector to make more properties available for quarantine facilities. “We will inform the public as these building become available,” she said.
The government would also tighten border control to ensure that everyone who came to the country was screened properly.
WE HEAR THAT HAND SANITISER THAT COSTS R9 TO PRODUCE IS NOW SOLD TO GOVERNMENT FOR AS MUCH AS R75
De Lille said emergency procurement procedures were in place to erect and repair the border fences, east and west of the Beitbridge border post with Zimbabwe.
“Due to this being an emergency, my department has instructed the contractor to substantially increase the number of teams deployed and the rate of delivery tenfold,” she said.
The project would cost about R37m. De Lille said that all 40km of the fencing would be completed within one month and the contractor would source local labour.
“To further expedite this process, the department of public works and infrastructure has identified a project manager, who will be deployed to supervise the project and ensure that all aspects run smoothly.
“Weekly payments will be made to the contractor for work completed, as certified by the project manager.”
The minister said that the move could not be seen as xenophobic, saying that it was necessary to contain the spread of the pandemic.
“This is to ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross into the country — and vice versa. This is in line with one of the measures announced by the president in that SA’s borders and ports are to be secured with immediate effect,” she said.
De Lille also expressed concern that some government suppliers were inflating their prices to take advantage of the crisis. “We hear that hand sanitiser that costs R9 to produce is now sold to government for as much as R75. We will be looking into this,” she said.