The reason for this is laid mainly at the feet of an influx of tourists over the past holiday season.

A source said that rest stations next to the N4 has proved to be one of the sources of local Covid-19 infections as infected tourists get in contact with workers who then spread the virus to local communities they live in.

Although the Steve Tshwete area has been declared a provincial hotspot, it should not be confused with national hotspots.

According to the latest statistics released by the ministry of Health for 4 January, Gauteng is the province with the most infections consisting of 27,1 % of the national total. Then follow the Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape, Free State and North West Province.

Mpumalanga has the seventh highest infection rate out of nine provinces followed by Limpopo and the Northern Cape.