Health MEC, Madoda Sambatha, said this as the district - which is the epicentre for the virus in the province - continues to experience a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Two wards at the Job Shimankana Tabane (JST) Hospital, together with Rustenburg Town Clinic, are being remodelled to make 100 additional Covid-19 beds available.

He says these beds will be used for patients who are unable to isolate at home and those with any other illnesses.

The district has been experiencing a surge in Covid-19 infections since the outbreak of the virus in the mining industry in the district.

North West Health Administrator, Jeanette Hunter, visited the JST hospital on Saturday to check on progress," Sambatha adds.

He says Hunter has given the department feedback on her oversight visit to the hospital and reckons that "the remodelling is at an advanced stage. We will be able to accommodate patients in the coming weeks. Post COVID-19, the wards will be used for gynaecology purposes."

He says that the administrator has assured that two field hospitals are being planned in the district, which will make 500 beds available on top of the above-mentioned 100 - while a site on the JST hospital grounds is being prepared to accommodate a 300-bed field hospital.

The remaining 200 beds are going to Moses Kotane Hospital.

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