Johannesburg - With the advent of the third wave of Covid-19 cases approaching in Gauteng, the public has been asked to assist with getting the elderly registered for the government’s next phase of vaccination efforts.
Premier David Makhura said the command centre had noted a steady increase in the number of new infections across the province.
He said there had been an increase in the number of new cases, particularly in Tshwane, Emfuleni and Johannesburg in the past two weeks.
Areas most affected in Tshwane include Atteridgeville, Laudium, Pretoria central, Hercules, Danville, Saulsville Lotus and Pretoria generally. By yesterday morning, there were 56 new cases in that region alone. Other regions that showed a high number of new infections included Region 4, which includes Waterkloof, Olievenhoutbosch, Silverton and Centurion with 39. There were also 36 new cases in Mamelodi, Eersterust, Silver Lakes, Garsfontein and Queenswood. He said that since it launched its two-week vaccination registration campaign targeting people older than 60 on April 20, only 235202 had registered.
Makhura said they were targeting residential facilities for older people, community-based service centres, social grant paypoints and households of the elderly through the assistance of 10 000 community workers. In the past week, 21 435 persons over the age of 60 were reached through door-todoor campaigns.
DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom said he was concerned that only 235 000 out of 1.3 million people over 60 in Gauteng had registered for the Covid-19 vaccine. Vaccinations are due the start next Monday.
The Star