[ad_1]
Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde says coronavirus cases have almost doubled in the past week in the Western Cape. (Photo: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach)
Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde has confirmed that the province is experiencing a resurgence in Covid-19 infections and has asked residents to wear masks, stay away and wash their hands. We publish your statement in its entirety.
The Western Cape government is deeply concerned about the increasing number of Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations in the province, which can now be seen as an established resurgence.
A resurgence is when the number of active cases increases, week to week, by more than 20%. In the last week alone, the province has experienced a 52.1% increase in new cases, with a pattern established over time.
There is also established community transmission of the virus again in this province, which means that it is spreading within communities at a faster rate.
This growth is driven primarily by two districts in the Western Cape: Garden Route and the Cape Metro.
Last week, we issued a hotspot alert for Garden Route following an alarming increase in cases in the area. This increase has continued to gain momentum and there are more active cases in the George and Knysna sub-districts now than at any point in the pandemic to date.
The city of Cape Town is following a similar trajectory to this region and appears to be between 10 and 14 days behind. Therefore, we are also issuing a hotspot alert for the metro.
It is important to note that the growth of cases in the City is registering in each sub-district and is not being driven by any area. This is verified by wastewater treatment tests.
While the growth in cases across the province has been primarily driven by these two districts, we are also concerned about the Cape Winelands, which is starting to register a worrying number of new cases.
The Overberg district, the Central Karoo district and the west coast district are being closely monitored, given their proximity to these hotspots.
This established resurgence of Covid-19 in the Western Cape is also reflected in the proportion of positive tests, which has now risen to 16%. This is comparable to the test positivity rate experienced in the Western Cape in early May 2020.
My biggest concern is our health platform, which is under increasing pressure. We have to make sure that everyone receives medical care when they need it.
Hospitalizations hit a low of less than 500 in September, and now hit 904 as of yesterday (November 24). There are currently 431 people in public hospitals and 473 in private hospitals in the Western Cape.
In the latest 24-hour reporting period alone, the number of people hospitalized for Covid-19 increased by a staggering 54.
Our Brackengate Hospital of Hope went from having a few patients in September to 109 today.
In fact, since the beginning of November, hospitalizations for Covid-19 throughout the province have increased by 63%. The private sector has increased 94%, while the public sector has increased 39%.
Critical care admissions have increased by 75% since the beginning of November.
This is particularly worrisome as admission to an intensive care unit is an indication of a serious illness that can lead to death.
We need everyone in the Western Cape to help prevent a closure and to ensure that there are enough empty beds in our hospitals for those who need them.
We must not have any illusions about the seriousness of the situation and how quickly it can deteriorate further.
The Western Cape government has intentionally reintroduced key healthcare services into our facilities because we need to provide comprehensive care to everyone who needs it, not just those with Covid-19.
This means that our hospitals are already more full than they were at the beginning of this year, during the first wave of hospitalizations.
We want to avoid at all costs having to downscale these essential services again because this will have a detrimental impact on the health of our people. We have to save all lives, including those without Covid-19.
Nor can we afford a lockdown again, as is being witnessed in many European countries at the moment. Our economy simply cannot afford it.
A lockdown would end jobs and make our humanitarian disaster worse. This will also cost lives in the future.
Therefore, we all have only one option. We have to control the situation through our own actions. We have to do everything we can to make sure we are not infected with Covid-19 and that we do not spread Covid-19.
The virus is not gone, but it will be with us during the holidays and beyond. Therefore, we must remain safe and protect each other by:
- Wearing a mask correctly is vitally important. You must wear your masks at all times when you are away from home. There can be no exceptions.
- You should avoid crowded and confined spaces at all costs. This is where the super spreader events take place.
- You should urgently reconsider hosting all nonessential people gatherings this year, especially indoor gatherings with poor ventilation.
- You must ensure that there is good ventilation at all times when you are in public. Virus droplets spread through the air in tight spaces, so the cooler the better.
- You should wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use a disinfectant.
- If you feel sick, you should not leave your home unless it is for medical treatment. You must first call our hotline on 080 928 4102 for guidance on next steps.
You also shouldn’t visit someone who is sick and look for other ways to provide support, like bringing a meal to a neighbor’s door.
Every resident must assume that Covid-19 is everywhere and take all necessary precautions at every point of their trip.
For business owners and managers, they cannot in any way take shortcuts in Covid-19 security protocols and must comply with all regulations. You are our best hope to keep an eye on all the assembly points, because you can guarantee the behavior that people need when they are in your establishment.
Help us keep the economy open by making sure your staff and customers are safe at all times.
We all have a critical role to play over the next several weeks in keeping our economy open and ensuring that there is a hospital bed for ourselves or our loved ones, should we need it.
Let’s show the world again that we can flatten the curve in the Western Cape.
A resurgence response plan will result in an increased high visibility application.
The Western Cape, through our Joint Disaster Operations Center, will dramatically increase high-visibility enforcement of Covid-19 regulations to help slow the spread of the virus.
The JOC, which has links to local joint operations centers throughout the province, is in the best position to coordinate law enforcement. He has a direct link to SAPS, as well as law enforcement and environmental officials in the Western Cape.
We urge members of the public, businesses, and other organizations to report violations of Covid-19 protocols immediately so that our teams can take action.
You can report violations using the online complaint form available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-business-safety-complaint-form
Dial * 134 * 234 # to report the violation on public transportation.
For Covid-19 health related inquiries, the provincial Covid-19 toll-free hotline number is 080 928 4102.
For general inquiries, you can contact the Western Cape Government Contact Center on 0860142142. DM / MC
