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17 August 2020 Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

  • As of 1pm on 17 August, the Western Cape has 6336 active cases of COVID-19, with a
    total of 100 778 confirmed cases and 90 869 recoveries.
    Total confirmed COVID-19 cases 100 778
    Total recoveries 90869
    Total deaths 3573
    Total active cases (currently infected
    patients) 6336
    Tests conducted 454104
    Hospitalisations 1115 with 242 in ICU or high care

Cape Metro Sub-districts:
Sub-district Cases Recoveries
Western 8507 7824
Southern 8840 7952
Northern 5935 5495
Tygerberg 12360 11415
Eastern 9213 8456
Klipfontein 8640 7836
Mitchells Plain 7952 7272
Khayelitsha 7922 7388
Total 69369 63638
Sub-districts:
District Sub-district Cases Recoveries
Garden Route Bitou 515 431
Garden Route Knysna 1243 1040
Garden Route George 3066 2624
Garden Route Hessequa 237 185
Garden Route Kannaland 87 57
Garden Route Mossel Bay 1814 1466

Garden Route Oudsthoorn 834 539
Cape Winelands Stellenbosch 1913 1754
Cape Winelands Drakenstein 4032 3719
Cape Winelands Breede Valley 3050 2745
Cape Winelands Langeberg 1054 961
Cape Winelands Witzenberg 1417 1249
Overberg Overstrand 1422 1349
Overberg Cape Agulhas 239 204
Overberg Swellendam 254 235
Overberg Theewaterskloof 1066 974
West Coast Bergrivier 379 339
West Coast Cederberg 140 120
West Coast Matzikama 270 218
West Coast Saldanha Bay
Municipality 1223 1122
West Coast Swartland 1347 1166
Central Karoo Beaufort West 379 287
Central Karoo Laingsburg 96 34
Central Karoo Prince Albert 11 5
Unallocated: 5321 (4408 recovered)
Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied
for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide
regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be
allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and
verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the
correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 13 deaths, bringing the total number of
COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3573. We send our condolences to their
family and friends at this time.

Alert level 2:

The new, alert level 2 restrictions will come into effect at midnight. These relaxed
restrictions are the first step in restarting our economy, saving jobs and addressing the
deepening humanitarian, and food security issues in the province that have emerged
since the lockdown began.
As we all work to rebuild the economy, I encourage everyone to support local and
small businesses in our communities wherever possible. Small businesses are importantcontributors to job creation, and supporting them during this difficult time will go a long way towards ensuring that they are able to recover and grow.
I also encourage those who can afford to do so, to support local restaurants and
tourism establishments who employ large numbers of people.

Along with the re-opening of most sectors of the economy, we will also see the lifting of
the ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.

The Western Cape wine and hospitality
industries are significant contributors to job creation in the Western Cape, especially in
our rural areas. Domestic wine sales represent more than half of the province’s sales
and the resumption of sales is an important first step in saving jobs and developing the
industry.

At the same time, I must appeal to residents of the Western Cape to drink alcohol
responsibly and to comply with the regulations around sales that are in place. In the
past, we have also seen residents queuing to purchase alcohol after the lifting of
prohibitions, and it is imperative that if you are buying alcohol, or visiting a bar or tavern
that you ensure that you are wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and keeping
up good hygiene practices like hand-washing.
We also appeal to retailers and businesses which will be allowed to operate under level
2, to ensure that they have all their safety protocols in place to protect staff and
customers.
Scaling up healthcare services:
The Western Cape saw a significant reduction in people accessing certain healthcare
services during as a result of COVID-19. Having overcome the peak in most parts of our
province, the Department of Health is now focusing on scaling up other healthcare
services. These services will be phased in, and the Department will use a risk and
impact-based approach to determine exactly how this will be done.
When comparing April 2020 to April 2019 we see:
• 68% less people visiting primary health care facilities in the Metro and 37% in
rural
• A 51% reduction in elective surgical procedures in the Metro and 42% in rural
• A 48% reduction in emergency visits in the Metro and 40% in rural
• 46% less outpatient visits in the Metro and 52% less in rural
We have also seen a reduction in essential and basic primary healthcare services
including a 22% reduction in immunisations, and a 36% reduction in screening for TB. We
have also seen reductions in the uptake of services such as chronic disease
management for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as for the
management of TB and HIV, and child and women’s health. These services will be
scaled up in our healthcare facilities, but we will also be making use of our community
healthcare workers, to visit patients in their homes and communities and who will be
able to screen for COVID-19 at the same time.

A systematic scale up of elective surgeries is also being planned.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put significant pressure on our healthcare systems, but it
has also seen us devise new ways of providing healthcare services in innovative, and
patient- centric ways. It is important that while we continue to minimise the spread of
COVID-19 and take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our loved ones,
that we continue to provide other necessary healthcare services and protect the
general health of our residents.

If you are concerned about your health, or the health of your children, have a chronic
condition or have defaulted on management of HIV or TB, we encourage you to
contact your medical provider, or your regular healthcare facility for advice on how
best to access your regular treatment or care.