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

16 August 2020

As of 1 pm on 16 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 1144 with 249 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.

CTICC Hospital of Hope enters its last week:

Over the coming week, the Western Cape Department of Health will be closing the Hospital of Hope at the CTICC. This field hospital has provided treatment and care to over 1500 COVID-19 positive patients since it opened in June.  Of these, over 1400 have got well enough to be discharged home, and sadly, 82 have died.

This intermediate hospital played an invaluable role at the peak of our curve in ensuring that our acute hospitals were not overwhelmed, and we were able to provide the appropriate level of care for those who needed it.

The Department of Health in the Western Cape has also used the hospital in recent weeks as part of its Diabetic strategy- admitting the highest risk diabetic patients for care. This has helped to protect the most vulnerable groups and to save lives.

The transfer of the remaining patients is underway, with the last patient date set for Wednesday. The Brackengate temporary hospital, which has capacity for 338 patients, including 8 high flow nasal oxygen beds will continue to operate in the metro. The Gift of the Givers donated 60 bed Freesia ward at Mitchells Plain hospital will also provide a dedicated COVID-19 ward in the metro. In the province’s rural areas, we will have additional beds at the 63 bed Sonstraal facility, and 32 beds in Hermanus, 20 in Vredendal and an additional 20 in George.

Many stories of recovery have emerged from the CTICC and from hospitals across the province in recent months, providing hope and positivity during this difficult time. We thank the patients who have put their trust in us, the healthcare workers who have been the province’s heroes and the many partners, like the CTICC, the MSF and the Gift of the Givers who have worked with us to save thousands of lives.

While the closure of two field hospitals is positive news for the province, we must all work hard to ensure that we continue to slow and contain the spread of the virus. Over the next few days, more of the economy will start to reopen, visits to family and friends and inter-provincial travel will be allowed and alcohol and cigarette bans will be lifted. These are welcomed because we must fight to save jobs and livelihoods but they will require us to continue to be cautious, and to take precautions to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. My plea to all residents of the Western Cape is to act responsibly by wearing your mask, practicing social distancing and keeping up with hygiene measures.