Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille said over 16 300 beds have been identified for possible quarantine, as cases of Covid-19 continue to increase.
De Lille said government continued to look for more sites for quarantine purposes
“To date DPWI has mapped properties across all provinces in all 44 districts and eight metros. Currently, the list we have ready for assessment with the Department of Health has 52 properties of which 31 are under the custodianship of DPWI,” she said, briefing journalists on steps that her department have taken to implement the nationwide lockdown that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday.
This comes as Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced today that the number of cases of Coronavirus have risen to 709, which was an increase of 155 since yesterday.
De Lille said the private sector had also come on board to help with sites to be used for quarantine.
“The private sector has also offered sites across the country such as hotels, other holiday properties and hospitals and we are assessing sites that have been offered by the private sector,” she said
“The response has been overwhelming and indeed we are grateful for the generosity and solidarity being displayed by the private sectors,” she added.
