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

15 August 2020

As of 1 pm on 15 August, the Western Cape has 6132 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 100 344 confirmed cases and 90 652 recoveries.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases 100 344

Total recoveries 90652

Total deaths 3560

Total active cases (currently infected patients) 6132

Tests conducted 451 193

Hospitalisations 1163 with 246 in ICU or high care

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-district Cases Recoveries Western 8498   7811
Southern 8836             7930
Northern 5933             5485
Tygerberg 12357        11388
Eastern 9215               8437
Klipfontein 8643       7828
Mitchells Plain 7955 7250
Khayelitsha 7922      7380
Total 69539            63509

Sub-districts:

District Sub-district Cases Recoveries

Garden Route Bitou 515                 431

Garden Route Knysna 1243       1037

Garden Route George 3056      2617

Garden Route Hessequa 237     184

Garden Route Kannaland 87     57

Garden Route Mossel Bay 1814             1459
Garden Route Oudsthoorn 834              525

Cape Winelands Stellenbosch 1913     1751

Cape Winelands Drakenstein 4031     3711

Cape Winelands Breede Valley 3047 2733

Cape Winelands Langeberg 1054      960

Cape Winelands Witzenberg 1413   1249

Overberg Overstrand 1422           1344

Overberg Cape Agulhas 239          204

Overberg Swellendam 254            235

Overberg Theewaterskloof 1065 969

West Coast Bergrivier 380          339

West Coast Cederberg 140          120

West Coast Matzikama 270        217

West Coast Saldanha Bay Municipality 1223      1116

West Coast Swartland 1346                1157

Central Karoo Beaufort West 379     287

Central Karoo Laingsburg 96             34

Central Karoo Prince Albert 11             6

Unallocated: 4916 (4402 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 32 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3560. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

Focus on the unemployment pandemic:
Earlier today, I participated in the President’s Coordinating Council meeting where I put forward the Western Cape’s position that we must urgently turn our focus to the second pandemic of unemployment and the humanitarian crisis that have been the result of a prolonged lockdown period in South Africa. Businesses who can operate safely must be allowed to do so. The alcohol ban which has also had a significant impact on the agricultural, agri-processing and hospitality industries should also be lifted, in conjunction with smart interventions aimed at reducing the harmful effects of alcohol on our society.

We have already seen major job losses as a result of the pandemic’s effects on our economy. As a country and as a province we must do everything possible to protect jobs, and grow our economy so that we can start to create new ones.

In the Western Cape, we have overcome the peak of infections, and we are seeing a decline in the numbers of infections, hospitalisations and deaths. Our healthcare system, bolstered by four field hospitals and additional healthcare interventions such as high flow nasal oxygen, has been able to provide appropriate care to everyone who needed it, and now has spare capacity.

I believe that President Cyril Ramaphosa, his cabinet and the various advisory councils understand the severity of the problem we currently face and the need for urgent and decisive action to change our course. We eagerly await the outcomes of President Ramaphosa’s deliberations and the announcements he will make tonight.

The reopening of our economy will require every individual, business and industry to take responsibility, to act responsibly and to ensure that safety is always top of mind to ensure that we continue to contain and slow the spread of Covid-19.

Red Dot Taxi Service:
The Red Dot Taxi Service, has since its launch in May this year, provided approximately 47 000 trips for healthcare workers, covering over 730 000 km and servicing 25 healthcare centres across the province. It has also undertaken over 8600 trips to and from isolation facilities across the province.

The Red Dot Taxi Service is a partnership between the Western Cape Government and the taxi industry, which provides safe, reliable transport to and from work for healthcare workers, and also provides a service to and from our quarantine and isolation sites for people making use of them.

During this pandemic, our healthcare workers have been the first line of defense and it was vitally important that we were able to provide them with a transport service that was reliable, and safe.

The Red Dot Taxis only carry limited loads, are sanitized between each trip and have protective measures in place for drivers and passengers.

Throughout the pandemic, the Western Cape Government has sought to build partnerships- with industries, businesses, NGOs and with individuals. This partnership with the taxi industry was a first in South Africa and has played an important role in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19. It is my hope that the Department of Transport and Public Works and industry representatives continue to build on this relationship going forward, to find new ways to innovate and to ultimately benefit the people of this province.

I would like to thank all of the operators and drivers who have been a part of this project for coming on board, and for working with us on this project.