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By Mwangi Githahu 
4h ago
Cape Town: As the numbers for the second wave of Covid-19 infection in the metro continue to rise, the Western Cape Health Department is taking a great interest in Khayelitsha, where the numbers have remained comparatively low across the expanding municipality.
Provincial Health Chief Dr. Keith Cloete said: “We have passed the peak of the first wave and deaths are increasing rapidly. In general, in the metro, we have seen strong increases in all geographical areas of the metro except Khayelitsha. “
When asked what the reason for the lower numbers was, Cloete said: “We would not like to speculate, but if you recall, in Khayelitsha there was a significantly high charge the first time and right now it might seem like some form of immunity against the first time. Wave could be the factor that has influenced this, but we don’t know enough to explain it. “
“It’s important that we really examine and see what is the reason for the less experience in Khayelitsha the second time around,” Cloete said.
This came up during Premier Alan Winde’s latest Digicon health update before Christmas, in which it was also revealed that the data showed that both hospitalizations and deaths on the Garden Route were declining, but this could be reversed with super events. spreaders.
On whether the Western Cape would follow the Eastern Cape in requesting that the national government impose restrictions, Winde said: “These are the things we have to consider. During the cabinet meeting this morning (Tuesday), we discussed what other areas we could consider. For example, with the arrival of Christmas, we have a meeting organized tonight (Tuesday) with religious organizations to see how we can minimize the gatherings as we did during Easter.
“We first look at existing restrictions, such as alcohol, that are related to trauma cases in our hospitals, to see if they have had any effect. Trauma beds require a lot of resources and we need to make sure we have space there. And by looking at them, we’ll see if more restrictions are necessary, ”Winde said.
Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said: “Over the next several weeks we hope to see our healthcare system under enormous pressure at a time when more beds will be needed than ever. It is also happening at a time when our nurses, our doctors and our doctors have already been working full blast, under very stressful circumstances, since March. “
“The fact that our second wave takes place during the holiday season, normally the most social time of the year, is of great concern. Given the circumstances, our healthcare system is fragile and although our front-line staff were there during the first wave, they are now exhausted and we must do everything we can to give them a break, ”said Mbombo.
Meanwhile, commenting on the issue of hospitalizations in the province, EFF provincial president Melikhaya Xego said: “Currently the pressure on hospitals in the province is due to the fact that a high number of people suffer from serious infections and Covid-19 trauma. -Related cases as a consequence of alcohol consumption.
“People should avoid attending super broadcast events this holiday season. People should limit the excessive consumption of alcohol that would cause fights and deaths, both in public and private spaces. You should not drink and drive as that would lead to an increase in the number of trauma cases. People must follow government guidelines aimed at curbing trauma cases and deaths, ”Xego said.
Cape Argus
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