Acting Minister of Health, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, gave an update on Friday on the latest developments around the Covid-19 pandemic

She announced that South Africans over the age of 50 will be able to get their Covid-19 jabs from 15 July.

Director-general in the Department of Health Anban Pillay described Gauteng as a red zone when it comes to the demand for hospital beds. 

The third wave of infections is being largely driven by Gauteng, with the province accounting for around 60% of new infections countrywide.

"The forecast put pressure on hospital beds across the country and we know that in Gauteng, it is in a red zone and where the pressure of beds is significant,” said Pillay.

"In addition to Gauteng, North West and Northern Cape are also having a huge pressure on the beds at this stage while the other provinces do not have similar levels of pressure but it is only a matter of time as cases increase." 

The department says it has enough personal protective equipment to dispatch to provinces to fight the third wave of Covid-19. 

Jacaranda News