The City adopted a multi-disciplinary approach that proactively involves significant stakeholders within City departments and entities to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The City has modeled its COVID-19 response plans in line with the Gauteng Provincial Government 6 pillars, with the continuation of Services being slightly diff­erent:

1. HEALTH

Health Awareness Activities:

• There are continuous Health awareness activities at Taxi Tanks, Shopping Malls, Hostels, High-Density Areas including Informal Settlements (awareness focused on understanding COVID-19, prevention measures). To date, more than 1 million leaflets and posters distributed. EMS Pier, JMPD Outreach, Health, and Disaster Management teams facilitate awareness and educational campaigns on COVID-19 to residents.
• The City also launched the Hlapa Matsoho campaign aimed at educating communities and residents of Johannesburg, speci­fically in informal and depressed communities about the importance of washing hands with soap.
• The city has 28 designated primary health care facilities that conduct COVID-19
• The City is regularly screening and testing occupants at Homeless Shelters (10 shelters). Management of acute and chronic illnesses and management of substance abuse withdrawal symptoms also provided at all shelters with the assistance of NPO’s.
• Joint Contact Tracing teams are active in each sub-district.
• Clinical staff at all health facilities have been trained on the guidelines.
• Staff have been trained in infection control protocols and appropriate PPEs are available for staff
• The City has also identifi­ed several facilities for use of isolation and quarantine sites should the need arises.

2. MEASURES IN PLACE TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES

Mass screening and testing campaign for Category A and Category B employees. Category A refers to all essential Service Workers, Public Safety Personnel, Support, and General Staff who have been working since the beginning of the National lockdown. Category B are employees who are working from home and will be returning to work as part of Alert Level 4 arrangements.

• As of 29 May, a total of 8, 768 employees were screened and 751 were tested.
• The Screening and testing campaign is ongoing at the municipal offices.
• Offices are being cleaned and sanitized.
• The City has also adopted the “Work from Home’ strategy to ensure business continuity. This will allow employees to work remotely when necessary or more optimal,
• Workplace risk assessment and places in development across all Office Space together with critical workplace protocols (surveillance, daily screening, sanitization, and social distance measures),

3 SOCIAL RELIEF MEASURES

The City continues to provide food parcels to indigent and referral families (those who have lost income due to COVID-19). The City has put the following additional plans in place:

• To date, the City has distributed more than 45 000 food parcels since the commencement of the lockdown.
• The City has taken a decision to source food parcels for one million households within the City as a means to provide social relief to poor households and communities over the next three months.
• Proposal to enter into a partnership with food manufacturing companies to provide a million households with a food pack:
• The food package will be limited to R350 per parcel per family and be based on an e-voucher system.
• Accommodating the Homeless:
• There are 9 COJ facilities used for homeless shelters to date. These shelters provide accommodation and food for the homeless. The City is working with the Department of Social Development to accommodate and feed the homeless during the lockdown period.

4 WATER, ELECTRICITY, AND WASTE REMOVAL

City Power and Johannesburg Water continues to operate whilst ensuring that they protect and minimize the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic to the workforce and residents of Johannesburg by implementing the following:

• All scheduled maintenance and planned interruptions in services are suspended. This is to release all available operations teams to the effective management of unplanned and emergency interruptions over the lockdown period.
• Joburg Water made provision for water and sanitation services e.g. water tankers to communities with limited access to water, to high population density settlements, rural communities, and informal settlements.
• To date, 1 421 chemical toilets to informal settlements have been deployed.
• Residents who are on the Expanded Social Package (ESP) continue to get water until the lockdown is over.
• Pikitup continues with operations and efforts are being made to ramp up the frequency of collection during the lockdown period.
• Pikitup has geared its depots to focus on high-density areas by increasing from 2 to 3 shifts. These areas include All CBD’s, Townships characterized by backyard dwelling, Informal Settlements, hostels, and rapidly urbanizing areas (South Hills, Lehae, Fleurhof)

 5.TRANSPORT

Metro Bus and Rea-Vaya bus services continue to operate while ensuring the availability of buses especially for those essential services staff needing to get to work.

• Metro Bus and Rea-Vaya are now operating on 70% load. Under level 4 lockdown, the City has ensured that the buses are implementing measures to protect passengers. Buses are being cleaned and sanitized regularly, social distancing is being practiced and full-body sanitizing booths will be implemented in all stations. Commuters are also sanitized at the entrance of the stations.
• A total of 65 Market, Office, and Transport facilities identifi­ed for deep cleaning as part of disinfecting and sanitizing the facilities. COJ together with GPG, recently launched a sanitation pilot project at Bara Taxi Rank which entail:
• Redesign of floor space at the taxi tank to ensure social distancing,
• Installation of technological systems to support sanitization and screening,
• Introducing appointed taxi rank management committees to assist with COVID-19 enforcement,
• Sanitization of commuters at each loading bay and disinfection of taxis,
• Upscaling of the taxi rank cleaning program. The lessons learnt will be used to relook at Rea Vaya and Metrobus bus stops. The intention is to ensure the entire public transport system is reorganized to minimize the spread of COVID-19 but deliver much-needed services.

6. Public Safety

During level 5 and 4, All the City’s Licensing Centres were closed and resumed operation as of 1st June 2020. The COJ Public safety Departments have started to gradually reopen its licensing centers.

The Motor vehicle Registering Authority and Driver’s license Testing Centres that have met the necessary health measure and have been approved are:

• Sandton MVRA, DLTC and Mini Bulk
• Roodeport MVRA and Mini Bulk
• Dube MVRA and Mini Bulk
• Wemmer Super Bulk
• Langlaate MVRA, DLTC and Mini Bulk
• Randburg DLTC
• Florida DLTC

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), working together with the South African Police Services (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) continue to monitor and enforce strict adherence to the guidelines outlined by the President.

The City is gradually opening the municipality’s Customer Service Centres following a directive by the ministry of COGTA to resume generating services. The ­first of the eight centers to be opened across the City was the Sandton Customer Service Centre in Sandown which was deep cleaned and disinfected in preparation for operations to resume.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that includes handwash soaps, sanitizers, gloves for cash handling staff, and thermometers to ensure all the 30% staff returning in each center were screened for clearance on entering the centers have been supplied. These interventions are supported by the City’s COVID 19 healthcare workers who have been providing training to staff on how to keep safe in the work environment since the lockdown began

The City Of Johannesburg has made available 21 Covid-19 testing & screening sites across the City

 The City Of Johannesburg has made available 21 Covid-19 testing & screening sites across the City

WEAR YOUR MASK WASH YOUR HANDS PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING