File
The government’s inter-ministerial team will be in Nelson Mandela Bay this week as the fight against the resurgence of Covid19 in the province and the Metro ramps up.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba will lead the high powered team back to Nelson Mandela Bay on a two-day visit on Wednesday and Thursday.
The MEC will be joined by Premier Oscar Mabuyane, Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize, Co-operative Governance, and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu.
The intervention comes amid a spike in Covid19 cases in the province and the Metro in particular, with hospitals reportedly full and some patients being turned away.
According to figures dated 23 November, the Province has over 11 000 active cases, with over 6 800 of these in Nelson Mandela Bay, 2 142 in Sarah Baartman District, and over 900 in Buffalo City.
In a statement, the Department of Health said the Inter-Ministerial delegation will meet medical workers, organised labour, civil society, church leaders, and tavern owners to discuss measures to slow down the rate of infection.
“The delegation will also visit taverns and malls in hotspot areas.”
MEC Gomba said the provincial government was concerned about the surge in new infections, adding that this was why there was a need for behavioural changes.
"Large gatherings are super-spreaders hence we have been meeting with tavern owners about ensuring patrons are kept to the allowed numbers inside their places of business and that they adhere to regulations,” the MEC said.
