Mkhize conceded in a media briefing that the sudden surge in infections, with daily increases of several thousands, had caught the health system in Gauteng off-guard. The minister said the requirements had been made more onerous still because of the decision that new beds must also be coupled with oxygen reticulation availability, hence the Health Department was now sourcing additional oxygen from the industrial sector for use in hospitals.
The results were needed for staff to decide whether to transfer a patient to a ward reserved for Covid-19 patients, but as the country ran out of testing material and delays of several days occurred, triad wards were running out of space. Mkhize said he had consequently assembled a team to help set up more beds, but that it was also imperative to bring the turnaround time for coronavirus tests down to under two days.
Mkhize said the reintroduction of a night time curfew from 9pm on Monday was necessary because it was apparent that people were gathering socially "with or without alcohol" and that this could contribute to transmission.
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