CAPE TOWN - Gauteng is expected to overtake the Western Cape with a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections.
"We are seeing a rapid rise in the cumulative number of positive COVID-19 cases indicating that, as we had expected, we are approaching a surge during the latter winter months of July and August", Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, said in a statement on Sunday.
He added, "
It is anticipated that while every province will unfortunately witness an increase in their numbers, areas where there is high economic activity will experience an exponential rise – beginning with Gauteng and Western Cape and followed by Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal."
Mkhize continued by warning that Gauteng is expected to become the countries Covid-19 epicenter in the coming days providing reasons such as:
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Inward migration;
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The large population (especially in metros like Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane);
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Increased congregating which spurs cluster outbreaks;
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The level to which people are able to adapt to new behaviours such as social distancing and the wearing of masks.
"When the national lockdown was eased to level three, there was a large inward movement of people as economic activities resumed. The surge that has been witnessed in the past two weeks has developed due to seeding of infections carried in by members of the community as they moved back into the workplace."
The statement presents a graph that indicates the infection rate displays the largest surge to be in Gauteng.
"In addition to regular hand washing, social distancing and the correct wearing of masks at all times, early case detection, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation are the key armaments we have in our toolbox to break the cycle of infection. The province is being engaged to strengthen their contact tracing and quarantine/isolation uptake" added Mkhize.
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