More vaccination sites as Tshwane flagged among Covid-19 hotspots
The Gauteng province has continued to record an average of over 2 000 new daily infections.
As the Gauteng province record, an average of more than 2 000 new coronavirus daily infections since last week, more vaccination roll-out sites have been added in Tshwane.
Since last week Wednesday, the province has consistently recorded daily infections above 2 000 while the Tshwane region recorded the second-highest daily rate. The period between last week Wednesday to this Sunday, Tshwane accounted for 3 389 new infections.
The Tshwane metro announced on Tuesday the addition of five new vaccination sites bringing the total to 19.
Spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the addition of sites was a measure to enhance the vaccination drive for the elderly from the age of 60 and above and ensure the programme reached communities.
Initially, the metro had 14 sites for phase 2 of mass vaccination. Bokaba said the addition of sites was important in the fight against the pandemic.
The addition of sites takes place as the Tshwane region had been flagged as a growing Covid-19 hotspot area by researchers at the provincial command council last week Friday.
Council member Professor Bruce Mellado said the Tshwane region was among cluster hotspot areas accumulating sustained growth in infections during a third resurgence in the region.
Between 28 May – 3 June, 15 291 cases were recorded, and Mellado warned the uptick was worrisome.
Areas of great concern in the region were Atteridgeville, Laudium, Pretoria CBD, Hercules, Danville, Saulsville and Lotus Gardens.
Tshwane region four and six were also flagged as worrying. The arears include Lyttelton, Eldoraigne, Waterkloof, Olievenhoutbosch, Rooihuiskraal, Silverton, Centurion, Brooklyn, Hatfield, Mamelodi, Garsfontein, Lynnwood, Queenswood, Wilgers, Waltloo, Equestria, and Brummeria.
“We are solidly in a third resurgence of high cases. We are technically in the middle of the third wave. This is the fifth week of sustained growth in new cases. In the past two days (Thursday and Friday), we have had 3 000 cases per day, which is already quite a big number,” Mellado said.
As of Sunday, a total of 3 074 people were hospitalised in the public and private facilities but Tshwane region accounted for 231 admissions which was relatively low.
Gauteng premier David Makhura described the third wave as a “slow burn but more sustained”, which the researchers warned would last longer.
“Three weeks ago, we were concerned of infections in Sedibeng but now we are more concerned about hotspots in Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni,” Makhura said.
“Two weeks ago, Tshwane had small hotspots but now you can see hotspots are growing from the Pretoria CBD and to areas such as Atteridgeville. We know that it will expand to the north west of Tshwane and to the east of that region.”
To combat the fight against the virus, the researchers and governments said the ramping-up of vaccination was important.
According to the Gauteng government, as of 17 May, 209 035 vaccines were administered since the start of the phase 2 rollout; with 149 077 of whom were persons over 60 years and 59 958 healthcare Workers. Tshwane accounted to have vaccinated 21 828 people aged 60 and above.
Below are the additional Tshwane vaccination sites which started operating Tuesday morning:
– Mabopane indoor centre
– University of Pretoria
– Olievenhoutbosch hall
– Mamelodi hospital, corner Tsamaya Road and Serapeng Avenue, Mamelodi
– Rethabiseng community hall
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