Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde – 4363 residents have recovered from Covid-19 in the Western Cape

19 May 2020

As of 1pm on 19 May, the Western Cape has 6195 active cases, 10558 total confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection and 4363 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 457

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

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 18 COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 183. We extend our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

The scientific reason for the Lockdown has been to prepare our health system for the peak

Today I provided a detailed updated on our government’s preparations for the Covid-19 pandemic. The scientific reason for the Lockdown, and which has been made clear by experts, was to buy us time to prepare for the peak that will inevitably come. The virus cannot be stopped and will continue to spread throughout the country.

We have been working around the clock to make sure that we are prepared and that every resident that requires healthcare gets it when they need it. This has included:

• R725.5 million has been committed towards Covid-19 related expenditure across the Western Cape Government.
• We have established a dedicated Coronavirus Provincial Hotline for residents to call, that has received a total of 28 500 calls since 16 March 2020. On average it receives 500 calls a day.
• The conversion of the CTICC into a temporary hospital facility that will provide some 850 additional beds at the peak of the pandemic is well underway.
• In total, this facility will include 4 wards – a mixed staffing model of temporary appointments, temporary re-deployment of staff, agency staff (medical -, infectious disease -, emergency – and internal medicine specialists and volunteers will be applied at the facility).
• It is estimated that 200 admissions and 200 discharges will be managed per day during the peak.
• We will open additional temporary hospitals along the R300 in the Metro, in Khayelitsha and in the Cape Winelands that collectively provide an additional 616 beds.
• This is in addition to the Western Cape’s 2 162 (includes 658 through expansion) general care beds and 150 ICU beds that exist in Central and Regional Hospitals across the province.
• We have opened 18 testing and triage centres (12 are already operational) to provide additional support at these facilities.
• We have 3888 Community Health Workers operating across our province, with a further 464 due to start work soon
• We have increased the number of tests from 7 975 on 1 April to 94 275 on 18 May. This is an increase of 1182%. This represents a testing ratio of 1347.27 per 100 000, the highest in the country.
• Using our targeted hotspot approach, we have screened 473 348 people, and referred 12 095 people for testing.
• We launched an online screening tool which has assisted in screening 62 200 people.
• We have recruited 1 645 volunteers to support our healthcare workers when this peak arrives.
• We have ordered R350 487 835.00 million worth of PPE so that our healthcare workers have the protection they need to care for every sick person. We aim to procure R550 million worth of PPE over the course of the pandemic.
• In the public sector we have provided 86 129 flu vaccinations thus far – 65 670 vaccinations to vulnerable groups of people and 20 459 vaccinations to healthcare workers.
• Since the pandemic, we have de-escalated non-essential operations at our healthcare facilities in the Western Cape, which has freed up existing ward capacity in these hospitals (Central and Regional – in relation to the 2 162 general beds and 150 ICU beds) to care for Covid-19.
• We have 432 ventilators and have ordered an additional 100 ventilators to be used at the peak and use our current piped medical gas for high-flow oxygen treatment.
• We have 19 Quarantine and Isolation facilities available offering 2365 beds.
• We are activating an additional 9 facilities which will realise an additional 2292 beds.
• We have launched the Red Dot Transport Service, that through 100 minibus taxis, will transport healthcare workers home when their shift ends at 19h00, given the limitation on the public transport system to operate after 19h00.
• The Red Dot Transport Service will also safely transport those who test positive for Covid-19 to facilities if they cannot isolate safely at home and others to quarantine facilities should they need it.

For more information on what we have done across government departments, visit the following link: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/news/western-cape-has-prepared-its-healthcare-system-peak-and-must-move-level-3-conjunction-targeted

This is precisely why, that given our robust healthcare system preparation and that we will continue to rigorously intervene in hotspots, we must open more of our economy over time. Not allowing this to happen will threaten lives in the future as an unpreceded humanitarian crisis unfolds, and this cannot be ignored by any level of government.

I want to again reiterate that this cannot be done alone. We need the help of every single person in our team effort to slow the spread, and “flatten the curve”. When you keep yourself safe, through practicing good hygiene, keeping your distance, and wearing a mask properly, you help keep vulnerable people who are at higher risk safe too. Your actions can save lives, and we need every person to continue to be our partner in this Covid-19 response.