By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Health said in a statement the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 686 041 with 5 668 new cases identified.
The department said a further 67 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported which brings the total to 56 832 deaths and the recoveries now stand at 1 570 975, representing a recovery rate of 93,2%.
Vaccination Rollout
The daily report can be found on the following link: https://t.co/3W7D3XMI0S
tistics-as-at-midnight-on-2-june-2021/
The updated list of sites that are reporting vaccinations to the EVDS can be found at the following link:https://t.co/KQDnKqQd88— Department of Health (@HealthZA) June 4, 2021
Meanwhile Gauteng Premier David Makhura claimed that the current predicament facing the controversial Department of Health in his province needed “urgent intervention”.
Currently, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Leratong Hospital, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, as well as Helen Joseph Hospitals all face serious water crises.
Humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers came to the rescue of Rahima Moosa Hospital and drilled a borehole following an outcry from Coronationville residents and hospital users.
Makhura said: “We want to declare a local state of disaster. It will enable us, as an emergency, to swiftly open the hospital. We can’t go through the entire June without Charlotte Maxeke.
“I can’t throw a rulebook when people are dying, and there are lives that should be saved. We are looking at other legal instruments to open parts of the hospital. Charlotte Maxeke Hospital occupies the apex of Gauteng health. It offers specialised services. The province can’t afford to have the hospital closed in the middle of a raging pandemic.
“The sooner the hospital opens, the better. It is the top of the class in providing oncology services. We are discussing declaring a localised disaster at the hospital. It should open urgently,” Makhura said.
Recent water cuts in hospitals have impacted on our fights against the pandemic. Not only have our health facilities been affected by water cuts, but residents too are affected. Inadequate water supply in our hospitals compounds the situation.
“I have been distressed by the water situation in hospitals and the fire at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital. I compliment Gift of the Givers for digging a borehole at Rahima Moosa Hospital, “said Makhura.
“The sooner the hospital opens the better. The virus in Gauteng is everywhere.
“We are concerned about increases of hospital admissions. Gauteng accounts for at least half of daily cases reported nationally. Three weeks ago, the pandemic was in Sedibeng. It has now moved to parts of Johannesburg, West Rand, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane regions,” he said.
Makhura claimed that he was worried about the impacts of power cuts, especially during the winter season.
He said power cuts combined with the cold weather prevented people from leaving their homes to ventilated spaces.