Gauteng should release regional Covid-19 figures

8 April 2020

I support the call by the DA Shadow Minister of Health SiviweGwarube that all provinces should provide an accurate breakdown of Covid-19 cases and daily infections by regions.

It concerns me that no regional breakdown is given of the Covid-19 figures in Gauteng, but only the total for the entire province.

The worldwide trend is to provide detailed information but in South Africa only the Western Cape is regularly providing a breakdown of Covid-19 cases per region.

It is in the public interest to know where the outbreak is most severe, where it is declining and where it may be rising.

We should also be updated every day how many people are hospitalized with Covid-19 in the province.

I have therefore requested the chairperson of the Gauteng Legislature’s Health Committee to ensure that the Gauteng Health Department provides detailed information for oversight, and she has responded positively.

The Department should be transparent in releasing the figures in identifiable districts, as was done at an earlier stage but was not continued.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 8 April 2020