This is according to the province’s Coronavirus Command Council. The Council on Friday, in its weekly virtual meeting, said whilst the Bojanala Platinum District has in the past three consecutive weeks registered a decrease in confirmed Covid-19 cases, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and other districts still show an increase. This is a cause for concern. OFM News' Katleho Morapela reports the province now has a total number of 9 288 active Covid-19 cases, with Bojanala and the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Districts being the epicentres.

The Premier’s spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi, in a statement confirmed the Council has expressed concern at the number of positive cases in the province and reiterated that the only way to flatten the curve is to abide by the lockdown regulations.

OFM News previously reported that a number of politicians in the province have tested positive for Covid-19 and recovered. These include Premier Job Mokgoro, Arts and Culture MEC Virginia Tlhapi, and Public Works MEC Syliva Molapisi.

Ngesi says the Command Council has noted the number of recoveries in the province and the capacity for testing that has been increased at the Klerksdorp Tshepong and Job Shimankane Tabane Provincial Hospitals.

“The Command Council also welcomed interventions by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and stakeholders including Department of Water Affairs, Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) and Provincial Treasury in developing a sustainable approach to the provision of water and sanitation in the province. Professor Salim Abdul Karim, who is the Chairperson of COVID-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee, also joined the meeting and made a presentation which focused on COVID-19 vaccine trials in South Africa, during which discussions he reiterated that it is anticipated that the first set of vaccines could reach South Africa in a year’s time,” said Ngesi.

The North West Coronavirus Command Council is meanwhile urging all residents to adhere to all prevention measures such as the wearing of face masks, washing of hands with water and soap regularly or use of an alcohol based sanitiser, and to keep a safe physical distance.

OFM News