COVID-19: Western Cape Provincial Overview 4

23 April 2020

Western Cape Municipalities are implementing ongoing humanitarian and feeding initiatives to assist vulnerable communities during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Many Municipal Councils have already approved funding to either implement or support existing food security initiatives in their communities.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell has praised the municipalities for their ongoing efforts during this time.

“My department is working hard to support all our municipalities and we are looking at providing urgently needed additional financial support to our councils to further assist them in their critical work, feeding our people.”

Some of the work being done in municipalities across the province:

• In George Municipality 23 000 meals per day are being served from 138 municipality supported home-based soup kitchens in vulnerable communities. There is at least one soup kitchen set up in every vulnerable area, five to ten kitchens in larger communities, more than 20 in the greater Thembalethu area and nearly 30 in rural areas.  Most kitchens serve two meals a day – pap at around 10am and soup, noodles or another meal based on types of food available, at around 2pm. The people involved have been trained in the Covid-19 health protocols and supplied with hygiene packs and protective gear including masks, gloves and sanitiser. They have been issued with health permits and social distancing, handwashing and other health and safety measures are implemented.
• Drakenstein municipality, working with over 200 local NGOs, is rolling out a food aid programme. The Drakenstein Municipality food aid programme is additional to the Municipality’s 11 soup kitchens, the School Feeding Scheme, the Department of Social Development’s food hamper project, the SASSA Relief of Social Distress Programme, and the work done by various faith-based and local community organisations. Municipal account payment date has been extended to 30 April.
• Hessequa Municipality has extended the accounts payments for March to 15 May. No interest will be charged.
• Stellenbosch Municipality has expanded its financial payment relief offering and won’t be charging any interest on arrears accounts for April, May and June 2020. The Stellenbosch Unite is a collaborative aid action providing social support to vulnerable community members during the Covid-19 pandemic. The collaboration brings together Stellenbosch Municipality, Stellenbosch University, Visit Stellenbosch (civil society), SCAN (Stellenbosch Civil Advocacy Network, representing the non-profit sector) and the Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust (administrators). As a first priority, Stellenbosch Unite will be supplying weekly food packages to identified vulnerable families.
• Knysna Municipality and the Rotary Club of Knysna are working together to further implement the municipality’s Humanitarian and Social Relief Programme. The aim is to distribute up to 1 000 relief parcels per week.
• Mossel Bay Municipality continues to implement a mass sanitation of public spaces program. One of the areas focused on is taxi ranks in town and communal toilet areas in informal settlements.
• The City of Cape Town continues to provide basic and essential services to approximately 200 000 informal households. The City has rolled out 31 water trucks in communities where access to water is constrained. This project has seen more than 13 million litres of water delivered to date. The City of Cape Town is also now offering guest houses and B&Bs an option of applying to change their property classification – if they need to – as a result of the Covid-19 impact which in some cases could cut rates bills in half.

“We continue to urge all residents to work with us. Cooperate with the authorities. Stay at home and adhere to the regulations,” Bredell says.

He has urged all citizens with questions or concerns to visit the website: www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus or to get in touch with their local municipalities for assistance.

“This website is an up to date source of information for all citizens and gets updated continuously as information comes in. In addition, if you have flu-like symptoms, and have come into contact with someone who has Covid-19, please contact the provincial hotline on 021 928 4102 for advice on what to do next. Please always get a second opinion if you are at all concerned.”

END

Media Enquiries:

James-Brent Styan

Spokesperson for the Minister  of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell

22 April 2020

As of 17h00 on 21 April, the Western Cape has recorded 1068 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 53

Data notes:

*Going forward, the data will be reported as at 17h00 on the previous day, rather than at midnight in order to allow more time to prepare the daily reports.

The Western Cape also recorded five new deaths yesterday. These include three men, aged 43, 49 and 79 and two women, aged 54 and 95 respectively. We send our condolences to all of their loved ones at this time.

Healthcare response:

The Western Cape has now officially recorded over 1000 COVID-19 infections since the first case was detected on 11 March. As the Western Cape Government and the Department of Health work around the clock to ensure that we are prepared for the peak of infection, every single resident has a role to play in stopping the spread. Hand washing, hygiene measures, keeping a physical distance of 1.5 metres and wearing a clean, cloth mask out in public are simple things we can all do that will ultimately pay huge dividends and help us to save lives.

The province has now also recorded its 20 000^th test for COVID-19. Screening and testing are among the tools we can use to fight this pandemic, showing us where we need to concentrate our efforts. We thank all of those who have gone to get screened or tested, as well as the thousands of doctors, nurses and community health care workers who are part of our community screening and testing efforts.

We are however deeply concerned that the screening and testing teams continue to come under attack in communities. These teams are vital in our response to COVID-19 and any attack on them hinders our ability to respond effectively to this pandemic.

The Western Cape Government’s scenario planning shows that at its peak, the province expects approximately 80 000 people to be infected and symptomatic. About 90% of these will recover at home but we still anticipate a shortfall of 1000 beds in acute and 750 beds in critical care. We are planning field hospitals to account for the need for acute beds, but even in the best-case scenario and with private beds, we will have a shortfall in critical care beds, which is driven by a shortage in critical care nurses.

This is why it is so important that every person continues to play their part in flattening the curve, so that our healthcare system can manage with the increase in Covid-19 patients. Every single person has a role to play.

Comment from Health Minister, Nomafrench Mbombo:

In flattening the curve, we need your cooperation, government cannot do this alone. I cannot emphasize this enough, stay at home and leave your house only when necessary. When you enter a clinic, hospital, shop, office, petrol station, bus, or taxi or any other place there there are people, rub our hands with an alcohol-based hand-sanitizer and make sure that you keep distance between yourself and anyone else.

It’s the little things we do that will ensure we succeed in flattening this curve.

Response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcements:

Last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a R500 billion package of COVID-19 relief, including R20 billion towards the healthcare response and humanitarian relief including increases in the values of social grants, tax relief and support for businesses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has already resulted in huge economic pressure being placed on people across the country. As a result, we have seen a drastic increase in the number of families in the province who are unable to afford basic necessities like food and electricity.

The R200 billion loan scheme with the major banks will also allow companies in distress to continue to pay salaries and cover operational costs, thereby further helping to protect jobs.

We welcome these efforts to support our economy and vulnerable communities; but we also now need much more detail on how this will be executed going forward.

Today, the Western Cape cabinet also received a briefing from the Solidarity Fund, regarding their humanitarian and medical response across the country. The Solidarity Fund has been working with our disaster management teams in line with our efforts to map all the relief currently being offered in the province. We need a coordinated humanitarian relief approach so that no vulnerable person is left behind. We welcome their efforts to roll out relief quickly to those who need it most and we look forward to working together with them going forward.

Looting:

Over the past few days, we have seen an increased number of incidents of looting and public violence. We are facing a major humanitarian crisis across South Africa, as the impact of the lock-down hits vulnerable people. This worries me tremendously, and we have taken a number of steps to help as much as possible. Thousands of NGOs and community based organisations are doing the same.

However, I must be crystal clear: breaking the law will not be tolerated.

Looting is criminal, and the stealing of food parcels, must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We are already under extreme pressure to provide food and assistance to people, and criminal acts place even further pressure on us. Beyond this however, these thefts are hurting the poor and the hungry, who rely on those food parcels for their survival.

Parliamentary processes and oversight:

This week, the Western Cape Provincial Parliament will hold two virtual sittings- a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee this afternoon where I, together with Minister Nomafrench Mbombo will be presenting the Western Cape Government’s response to COVID-19, as well as questions to the Premier on Thursday afternoon.

I welcome the efforts by the WCPP to provide transparent oversight and for upholding our democratic principals at this time.

20 April 2020

 The Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi has called on employers who are registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to apply for the Covid-19 benefits through theTemporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme on behalf of their employees.

As part of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department has issued a directive for relief to be provided to contributors who have lost income or required to take annual leave as a result of the Coronavirus breakout.

To date, the UIF has received just over 55 268 applications from employers representing about 1 601 767 employees. In total, the UIF has over 1 800 000 employers registered on its database representing more than 8-million workers.

Of the received applications, the UIF has processed 37 673 employer applications which means that 606 462 employees will receive their benefit.  About 9 938 applications couldn’t be processed due to errors and the affected companies have been notified to correct their applications and resubmit. Some of the errors identified relate to incorrect banking details, making it impossible for payments to be processed.

As of today, the cumulative amount paid from April 16 to date is R1.1-billion.

“The UIF is working round the clock to meet the extraordinary volumes of requests for assistance presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 benefit scheme will provide much needed relief to employees who have been laid off work or unable to earn an income due to Covid-19,” said Minister Nxesi.

Minister Nxesi has also acknowledged that the UIF system is under pressure as the Fund is currently experiencing extraordinary volumes of requests due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Minister says the department is in discussion with other public entities and the private sector to build additional capacity in order to fast track the processing of applications and payments thereof.

“We have acknowledged that our system was not designed to accommodate the increased volumes of requests that we are witnessing due to the Covid-19. We have already taken steps to mitigate this risk. We have asked the South African Revenue Service to work with us to resolve the backlog we are currently experiencing. SARS has responded positively and they are sending a team to work with the UIF to ensure that we distribute funds to deserving beneficiaries as swift and cost-efficient as possible. We have equally engaged other private sector companies to work with UIF to enhance the capacity of our IT system to respond to the growing number of requests,” said Minister Nxesi.

Besides the COVID-19 TERS benefits, the department continues to pay normal benefits. To this end, people who have already been approved to claim do not need to phone or go online. The continuation benefits will be paid at specified dates.

As part of being more responsive to claimants, the UIF call center which initially had 75 agents, has increased its capacity and now has 200 agents manning the toll-free number (0800 030 007). More call center agents will be added should the need arise.

“These are important interventions that would go a long way towards alleviating some of the challenges we have been experiencing. The President has enjoined all of us to ensure that citizens are not unnecessarily inconvenienced as a result of the pandemic. As the Department of Employment and Labour we realise the critical role we have to play and we are encouraged by the spirit of solidarity both in the public and private sector and we are doing our utmost best to ease the hardship on workers,” concluded Minister Nxesi.

Employers can apply via www.ufiling.co.za or contact the UIF on 0800 030 007.

Department of Employment and Labour – Working for you!

For more information contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

21 April 2020

As of 17h00 on 20 April, the Western Cape has recorded 974 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 25

Data notes:

*Going forward, the data will be reported as at 17h00 on the previous day, rather than at midnight in order to allow more time to prepare the daily reports.

A total of 81 629 community screenings have been completed, with 3818 community tests done.

Speaking notes from the scenario planning

As you can see, I have been wearing my cloth mask. I am going to take it off now so that you can all hear me clearly, but this is something we are encouraging every single resident to use when they go out in public.

Make sure that you always follow the 5 golden rules of hygiene when doing so, and that you do not touch your face when wearing it. You can find out how to make your own by going to our website.

I would like to welcome you to our scenario planning and health system response press briefing.

There are many people who are not journalists watching via our Facebook live as well. Thank you for joining us today.

I have received many questions on how our health department is responding to Covid-19, and how we are preparing, given potential scenarios.

We are going to share this information with you today, because we believe the public needs to stay well-informed, and because every single one of us have an important role to play in this response. We are in this together.

Here is our promise – we are giving you the best available data we have to hand right now, and we will continue to update you. We are doing this because the fight against COVID-19 is all of our fight – We need everybody to play their part to ensure that our health services are not overwhelmed, and that we are able to save lives.

I also know that trust is earned. We will continue to earn your trust by being transparent in what is a quickly changing, unprecedented pandemic.

I am joined today by experts to help answer these questions. We need to listen to our experts and take their guidance as we make decisions during this very challenging time.

Dr Cloete is the Head of the Western Cape Department of Health.

Professor Andrew Boulle is from the Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research based at the UCT School of Public Health and Family Medicine.

We are lucky to have so many smart, hard-working people in South Africa working on our COVID-19 response. I was so impressed by Professor Abdool Kariem last week, who took South Africa into his confidence by sharing data and information with us.

We have been guided by his research, and we thank him and the National Department of Health for this support.

As mentioned, we are preparing our health response based on the very best evidence available to us about what we have seen abroad, what we have seen in South Africa and the Western Cape to date, and following engagements with the National Dept of Health, and the Presidency.

It is also based on the work of our own academic hospitals, health professionals and researchers who have painted a clinical picture of the likely scenario in the Western Cape.

We must highlight an important point. This is a changing scenario as new information and studies emerge in this global pandemic – we are adapting as quickly as we can and are working 24/7 on updating our response.

Our response also changes day-to-day, based on people’s behaviour – when each of you make the correct choices, it makes the outcome look better for all of us – this effect is immediate.

Every one of us has a role to play in our health response.

There is another point I need to stress, and which Professor Abdool Kariem also highlighted. Lock down has served to delay the peak in COVID-19 cases, it cannot prevent it.

This has allowed us time to build the system that we are showing you – but a difficult time lies ahead for all of us.

Lifting the lockdown, in whatever form it takes, will not make this problem go away and we cannot just go back to normal.

We need to adapt to a “new normal” in the way we behave, so that we can continue to “flatten the curve” and save lives.

As the Western Cape Government have done our best to use this lockdown period to prepare our capability for a major increase in COVID-19 cases, which we expect to still come.

Our own research, backed up by Google’s mobility reports, show that Western Cape residents have by-and-large, come to the party by obeying the lockdown and staying at home. Thank you to every person who has helped us, and helped their fellow citizens.

We need to ALL do even more going forward if we are to reduce that peak of infections, and prevent our health system becoming overwhelmed.

How high that peak is depends on you, and it depends on me.

As you will hear from the experts, we have been preparing for worst case scenarios, so that we are as prepared as possible.

But while we may be preparing for a bad scenario, I want you to know that you have a role to make it better. What you and your family does matters so much right now. We need your help.

Our scenario planning reveals the following:

• We expect about 80 000 people to be infected and symptomatic at the peak, and more than 90% of these to recover at home.
• We anticipate a shortfall of 1000 beds in acute and 750 beds in critical care facilities. We anticipate the 750 critical bed shortfall even in the best case scenario and with the private sector included. We’re planning field hospitals to account for those need for acute beds, but we will have a shortfall in critical care beds, which is driven by a shortage in critical care nurses.

These are our current numbers.

It’s going to be tough – but we have a good idea of what the peak is going to be, and we are preparing to be able to respond. We are going to give it everything we have.

I have teams working around the clock to prepare – which our presentation today will show.

At the frontline of our war with COVID-19 are our healthcare workers. I want to take this opportunity to issue a heartfelt and sincere thank you for what you are doing to save lives. You are our heroes and we are proud to have you on our team.

Our healthcare workers need to be protected from COVID-19 so that they are fit and well when we are going to need them most. Of all healthcare workers in the province,47 in both the public and private sector have become infected to date, and as we have seen in other countries, it is inevitable that this number rises.

Healthcare workers will be prioritised to receive the flu vaccine.

Another top priority is making sure we have PPE for these workers as a key response.

We currently have R44 million worth of PPE stock on hand and R185 millon on back order, which we hope to receive in plenty of time before our current stock runs out.

Our community health workers will all receive aprons and cloth masks for their work in the field when dealing with non-COVID cases, and they will receive surgical masks for when they are working with COVID cases.

We are also working with companies to upscale local production – giving business to South African entrepreneurs.

Innovators are coming to the fore.

We will continue with our recruitment drive for healthcare volunteers and are heartened that over 1000 people have responded to our call already. Thank you! These volunteers will be called up when the need arises.

Another critical step in our fight against this virus is pre-emptive screening and testing, and isolation and quarantine for residents who test positive.

We have public sector capacity to do 2000 tests per day, going up to 3000 at the end of the month using gene expert tests.

I know we are worried about ourselves, our families and our future. We need a common resolve as a province and country so that we can flatten the curve. We have achieved so much as a nation – I know we can do it again.

I am worried about stigma associated with Covid-19. We need to show kindness and compassion to those who are ill. This kindness and compassion is seen across our country’s cultures and religions. Let’s show how we are a caring country.

There will be people who need to isolate at a facility because they are not able to stay at home. We should welcome them back warmly when they have recovered. Small acts of kindness and love make all the difference during difficult times.

Finally, in our commitment to transparency, we are making our case data live on westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus.

A dedicated dashboard should be live from the end of the week. This will help keep you informed at all times.

This is not a once-off exercise. It is a journey we are taking together. I promise to keep you updated every step of the way.

21 April

Today, Premier Alan Winde, together with Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo and Western Cape Department of Health experts will brief the media on the province’s scenario planning and response preparedness for the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Andrew Boulle, from the Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research based at the UCT School of Public Health and Family Medicine, and Dr Keith Cloete, Head of the Western Cape Government Department of Health, will lead the scenario planning presentation.

The briefing will also include an opportunity for questions.

The press briefing will be held online, live on Premier Alan Winde’s Facebook page.

Members of the media wishing to ask questions will be required to send them to a Whatsapp group which will be created specifically for this purpose. To be added to the group, you must RSVP and send your number to Bianca Capazorio before noon.

NB: Those who were added to the group before, need not resubmit their numbers.

Facebook Live details:

The briefing will begin at 3pm and will be online at at https://www.facebook.com/windealan/

20 April 2020

As of 17h00 on 19 April, the Western Cape has recorded 905 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 10

Data notes:

*Going forward, the data will be reported as at 17h00 on the previous day, rather than at midnight in order to allow more time to prepare the daily reports.

The Western Cape has recorded one additional death- a 48 year old male, bringing the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the province to 17.

We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased at this difficult time.

Message from the Minister of Health, Nomafrench Mbombo:

“Together we can fight the spread of COVID-19 simply by STAYING AT HOME when possible. When you don’t stay at home you expose yourself to contracting the virus. Be a hero- stay at home and protect the most vulnerable community members.”

Humanitarian and social relief:

The nationwide lockdown has put economic pressure on households and families across the country. With many not able to work and earn a salary right now, the need for humanitarian and food relief is urgent.

Over the weekend, I was part of the President’s Coordinating Council where the need for food relief was discussed as a matter of deep concern.

We welcome President Ramaphosa’s commitment in his newsletter today that national government will scale up welfare provision to help households living below the poverty line.

In the Western Cape, we are currently using the data that we have available to us to map where the greatest need exists, and to ensure that relief efforts from all spheres of government and the NGO and private sector do not overlap.

As part of these mapping efforts, we have determined that municipalities in the Western Cape have so far spent R 7 million on feeding schemes and food parcels during the lockdown. Many municipalities are however unable to afford this in the long run. The Western Cape Government is currently working on proposals in order to further support feeding schemes at a municipal level.

The Western Cape Government has started the roll-out of the 50 000 food parcels which we have undertaken to fund and distribute. We continue to receive thousands of requests daily for food relief. We have doubled our call centre capacity in order to deal with the increased call volumes, however we understand that there is still a backlog and we are working 24/7 to ensure we onboard additional trained call centre agents.

Members of the public should please carefully read the qualifying criteria and details around the vetting process before filling in the form. Our food relief parcels are intended for those most in need, they are limited in number, and they will only be dispensed once a social worker has approved the application.

The qualifying criteria for relief are:

• Households affected by COVID-19 infections in the following instances:

–   A member/s of the family tested positive for the virus and they are in quarantine in their homes.

–   A household where a member of the family tested positive for the virus and where they have insufficient means to sustain themselves during the lockdown period.

• A person who is on medication or who suffers from a chronic illness and has insufficient means to sustain themselves and was assessed and referred by a local clinic or registered health practitioner.
• A person and their household who have insufficient means to sustain themselves during the lockdown period who was referred by a registered humanitarian relief agency, registered NPO or a municipal manager, and assessed by DSD. In this instance, persons not yet in receipt of SASSA grants, including the elderly, child headed houses, grant awaiting beneficiaries will be prioritised.

Emergency feeding has continued at schools in the province. These meals have allowed us to meet some of the nutritional needs of thousands of our youngest citizens at a time when they are most in need of it.

I would like to extend my thanks to the teachers and volunteers who are helping the Western Cape Government to feed our vulnerable residents, as well as to the many NGOs, businesses and individuals who are responding to the needs of our communities right now with donations, meals and food parcels. Your kindness and selflessness at this time are valued.

16 April 2020

Basic service delivery is continuing uninterrupted in all municipalities in the Western Cape.

In addition all municipalities are in various stages of implementing and coordinating feeding schemes with multiple stakeholders and partners to ensure vulnerable communities needs are met.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell says the task of improving basic water supply in high density informal settlements has already largely been completed.

“Water tanks, as provided by the Department of Water Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Human Settlements, have been delivered across the province. In addition, feeding of vulnerable school learners has commenced with the support of local municipalities.”

Bredell says local municipalities in the province have launched a feeding/food donation scheme to assist those most vulnerable in their communities, especially those families not covered by any existing government grants.

“There is some ongoing concern about our municipalities cashflow and revenue at a time when residential and business clients are struggling to settle their full municipal accounts. We will be taking this matter up with national government to see what can be done to support our councils.”

Some of the work being done in municipalities across the province:

• On the West Coast, a rural gravel road between Aurora and Redelinghuys, critical to emergency services was severely damaged. The West Coast District Municipality responding to a request from the SA Police Services, deployed its roads department and the road has been repaired during the past week. Rural roads are critical to ensure accessibility to rural areas. These are often gravel roads linking rural areas with bigger towns where essential services are rendered.
• In Knysna, the local Municipality has called for a concerted effort in implementing feeding schemes across all communities. Designated drop-off points for donations and support from the public have been established.
• Witzenberg Municipality is currently feeding 243 households and looking to expand to 600 households by the end of the month.
• Stellenbosch Municipality is preparing for the first wave of community based screening, expected to be rolled out in the area next week. The municipality is working with the Stellenbosch Unite partners to distribute food parcels to residents in need and the municipality also encourages all residents who are able, to make a contribution.

More information is on the municipal website and social media sites.

• Cape Agulhas Municipality is feeding 1530 people per day.
• Mosselbay Municipality continues to provide food to vulnerable communities. Door to door health checks are being done along with the provincial health department in KwaNonqaba and other smaller areas around the region.
• Cape Winelands District Municipality is actively assisting and promoting the distance learning schools education programs already in place.

“As the lockdown period has been extended we continue to urge all residents to stay at home and adhere to the regulations,” Bredell says.

He has urged all citizens with questions regarding the proposed lockdown and what it means for them, their families and their lives to visit the website: www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

“This website is an up to date source of information for all citizens and gets updated continuously as information comes in. In addition, if you have flu-like symptoms, and have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19, please contact the provincial hotline on 021 928 4102 for advice on what to do next. Please always get a second opinion if you are at all concerned.”

NB: Media Alert Premier Winde to provide update on Western Cape response to Coronavirus in digital press conference. Premier Winde will go live at 2.30pm. His Facebook page can be found at at https://www.facebook.com/windealan/

ENDS.

James-Brent Styan

Spokesperson to the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

Western Cape Government

9th Floor, Utilitas Building, 1 Dorp Street, Cape Town, South Africa

Telephone  : +27 21 483 2820

Mobile        : +27 84 5831670

E-mail          : james-brent.styan@westerncape.gov.za