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The Provincial Command Council has during its virtual meeting held yesterday, Wednesday, 31 March 2021, emphasised the significance of encouraging communities to continue adhering to the non-pharmaceutical interventions of wearing masks, washing hands or using an alcohol-based sanitizer regularly and always keeping the social distance, saying these remain relevant measures in ensuring that the third wave that is being anticipated, is prevented.
 
The Command Council also agreed to reiterate messages warning the public against the abuse of alcohol this Easter weekend, saying this will have a negative impact on the province’s health system, especially the trauma centres.
 
The Command Council which received a Covid-19 Epidemiology report from the department of Health, noted that while the province is continuing to observe a decrease in daily positive and active cases, it is important to remind and urge members of the public to always avoid crowded places, close-contact settings and confined and enclosed spaces.
 
The Council also welcomed the continued decrease in the number of patients currently admitted in ICU and those on ventilation, and that the province’s current average recovery rate is at 95%.
 
On the province’s vaccine rollout programme, the Command Council noted that as at 30 March, a total of 16 339 Health Care Workers had been vaccinated, and that the seven vaccination sites namely, Brits Hospital, Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital, Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital, Klerksdorp-Tshepong Tertiary Hospital, Life Peglerae Hospital, Mahikeng Provincial Hospital and Moses Kotane Hospital, remain active.
 
Premier Prof Tebogo Job Mokgoro who is the Chairperson of the Provincial Command Council, said as the province is preparing for the coming phase 2 of the vaccine rollout, the caution from the World Health Organisation about continued adherence to the non-pharmaceutical interventions should remain a constant reminder of the danger posed by the pandemic, this as being vaccinated does not mean that we can throw caution to the wind and put ourselves and others at risk.
 
In welcoming the update on the implementation of integrated risk adjusted preparedness and response plan by the department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Command Council directed the law enforcement and compliance officers to tighten up their programmes and monitor compliance in areas such as taverns and crowded recreational facilities during this Easter weekend.
 
Premier Mokgoro said as people will this Easter weekend be traveling and attending various family and religious gatherings, they should not lower their guard on the fight against Covid-19.
 
Wishing the people of the North West Province a safer Easter weekend, Premier Mokgoro said "As we all yearn for a break from battling the Covid-19 pandemic and to enjoy holidays with our loved ones, the fact is this virus is still with us. We therefore cannot afford to lower our guard. Let us avoid crowded places, and continue to observe all Covid-19 protocols", remarked Premier Mokgoro.
 
Premier Mokgoro further called on motorists to obey all rules of the road, and urged traffic officers to intensify law enforcement by being tough on reckless road users.
 
The Command Council virtual meetings are attended by Ministers and Deputy Ministers deployed to the province as National District Champions, the MECs, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Chairperson of SALGA, SAPS, Heads of Department and Section 100 Administrators.
 

Issued by North West Office of the Premier