Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update

For Immediate Release
4 July 2020

GARDEN ROUTE HEALTH PLATFORM UPDATE

 As Covid-19 cases are increasing in the Garden Route, more people are being referred to Isolation and Quarantine facilities. PetroSA West Camp is currently the only active facility in the Garden Route where patients, who are not able to do so at home,  are able to isolate and quarantine. We have had many happy patients returning from this facility.

Cases 

Garden Route cases and recoveries per subdistrict.

Bitou 78 cases; 28 recoveries
Knysna 215 cases; 102 recoveries
George 736 cases; 255 recoveries
Hessequa 32 cases; 18 recoveries
Kannaland 14 cases; 3 recoveries
Mossel Bay 263 cases; 87 recoveries
Oudsthoorn 89 cases; 30 recoveries

The Garden Route has recorded 34 Covid-19 deaths.

Hospitalisation

There are currently 37 patients admitted in public and private hospitals with 9 in ICU.

Community Testing and Screening

The approach to active Covid-19 case finding within the rural areas remain that of community testing and screening with a focus on people > 55 years, the vulnerable and those of high risk (people with co-morbidities). To date 127 165 people have been screened and 678 referred for testing.

Isolation and quarantine

Isolation facilities are for patients with mild to moderate symptoms where they can recover from Covid-19 (usually 14 days) and quarantine facilities are for those awaiting test results. These facilities are safe and comfortable and you will receive free transport, meals, and a laundry service. People who cannot isolate or quarantine safely at home, can be referred to a isolation or quarantine facility.

PetroSA (West Camp) is currently the only activated isolation and quarantine facility in the Garden Route. More facilities will be announced, if and when the need arises or capacity is exceeded at PetroSA. We currently have 76 people at West Camp.

Primary Healthcare                                                                                                                                            

Although we urge patients to only visit their nearest clinic for essential services we remind parents and caregivers that services such as immunisations are still rendered. It is important to attend all your confirmed appointments. Services such as women’s health(family planning, antenatal and post-natal care), child health(immunisations) and TB, are still rendered. Stable chronic care patients must collect their chronic medicine at the chronic off-sites. “should you require guidance or advice around your current treatment or scheduled appointment, please contact your clinic/hospital.

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Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Town Clinic,Plettenberg Bay
Tel: 044 5333846
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za