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By Mwangi Ghathu 
15h ago
Cape Town – Dr. Keith Cloete, Western Cape Health Chief, has said the department has made recommendations to the provincial cabinet on exploring local restrictions as the province experiences a resurgence of Covid-19 cases.
Prime Minister Alan Winde said that there was an established resurgence of Covid-19 in the Western Cape, and that the province would get tougher on people who do not obey COVID-19 safety regulations.
Winde said: “We are 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 after week, by more than 20%. Only in the last week, the province has experienced a 52.1% increase in new cases, with a pattern established over time.
“We must not have any illusions about the seriousness of the situation and how quickly it could deteriorate further. I can assure you that our economy cannot afford another lockdown. “
Areas where it is spreading the fastest include Bellville, Claremont, Delft, Dunoon, Grassy Park, Gugulethu, Hanover Park, Kuils River, Lentegeur, Lotus River, Macassar, Milnerton, Nyanga, Ottery, Parklands, Parow, Pinelands, Rocklands, Rondebosch , Sea Point, Somerset West, Strand, Tafelsig and Wynberg.
1,020 people with 187 have been hospitalized in ICU or intensive care, according to Winde.
The province registered 7,792 active Covid-19 infections, 127,403 confirmed cases, and 115,017 recoveries, as of 1:00 pm on Thursday. The death toll now stands at 4,594. Some 762,455 tests have been carried out.
Dr Cloete said: “We made a recommendation to the provincial cabinet on exploring local restrictions. The prime minister said a task force would meet on Friday, when we will give specific details on what the restrictions are. By next week there should be more clarity on exactly what these local restrictions will be.
“In the face of these growing infections, it would be responsible.”
Cloete said 115 health workers in the province had been infected by the resurgence in the last week. “The week before, there were 54 health workers infected. You can see that there has been a 50% increase from 54 to 115 out of a total number of 4,543 new cases in the Western Cape in the last week alone. “
Meanwhile, Winde said: “Members of the public, businesses and other organizations have been urged to report violations of Covid-19 protocols immediately so that our teams can take immediate action.”
Residents can report violations using the available online complaint form, https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-business-safety-complaint-form o Dial * 134 * 234 # to report the public transportation violation.
Cape Argus
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