Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

2 June 2020

As of 1pm on 2 June, the Western Cape has 10 097 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 23 095 confirmed cases and 12 436 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 1871 (624 recovered)

Additional data can be found on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus.

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 41 COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 562. We send our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

Vulnerable groups:

The Western Cape Government has conducted another review of all of the comorbidities associated with COVID-19 deaths in the province. When the data review was done on 26 May, the province had recorded 403 deaths- with the majority of these having one or more comorbidities.

The data has revealed that the top three co-morbidities per age group were:

Top three comorbidities per age group:

• 20 – 39 years (30% diabetes, 25% HIV, 20% Hypertension)
• 40 – 49 years (51% diabetes, 33% HIV, 28% Hypertension)
• 50 – 59 years (70% Diabetes, 63% Hypertension, 27% HIV)

The most prevalent co-morbidities in deaths due to COVID-19 across all age groups were diabetes and hypertension.

The majority of people who contract COVID-19 will experience mild symptoms and will be able to isolate and recover at home. However, those who are over the age of 55 or with underlying health conditions are most at risk of becoming seriously ill. This is why our health response must place a special focus on these groups, and why our testing strategy must align with this risk.

The country has now moved to alert level 3, which poses increased risk of infection as there will be more people moving around. That is why it is very important that those who falls into one of the vulnerable groupings, continue to take extra care in order to protect themselves. Staying at home will always be the single most important step you can take to protect yourself and we encourage all of those who do fall into these groups to remain at home as much as possible. The golden rules of hygiene, social distancing and wearing a mask are also important prevention steps.

For those who do not fall into these groups, you still have a responsibility to help protect both yourself and those around you who may fall into these groups. You can help by offering to help those in vulnerable groups- shopping for groceries, going to the pharmacy or running errands so that they do not go out into public. You can also help by ensuring that you are abiding by the golden rules at all times.

Recoveries:

Over 12 400 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the Western Cape. Among these recoveries, we celebrate the recovery of Ndumiso Mavimbela of Delft who has been released from Tygerberg last week after a 32-day stay which also included time on a ventilator and in the ICU. Mr Mavimbela falls into one of the risk groups, having recently been diagnosed with hypertension. His story is one of hope and we wish him well as he continues on his road to recovery. I would also like to thank the Tygerberg hospital team who provided him with the excellent medical care that helped him to recover.

Khayelitsha temporary hospital:

Yesterday, a temporary hospital built by Medicins Sans Frontiers in Khayelitsha, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government opened its doors. Today, the hospital accepted its first patients for treatment. This hospital will allow for people from the nearby community to receive care and will work closely with the Khayelitsha hospital. We send our wishes to the patients and to the healthcare workers who are providing them with care.