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3 December 2020 Media Release: Garden Route COVID-19 update – 3 December 2020

Media Release: Garden Route COVID-19 update – 3 December 2020

For Immediate Release
3 December 2020
The Garden Route has seen a 26% (525) increase in cases the last seven days compared to the previous seven days. Areas of most concern are Bitou, Knysna, George and Mossel Bay. We have also noted an increase in cases in Oudtshoorn and Hessequa.
 
New cases per subdistrict in the Garden Route
Area
Active cases 14 days ago
New active cases over last seven days
Percentage increase
Bitou
226
298
32%
George
877
1 032
18%
Hessequa
48
53
10%
Kannaland
18
18
0%
 
Knysna
397
501
26%
Mossel Bay
368
481
31%
Oudtshoorn
100
176
76%
Garden Route
2 034
2 559
26%
 
Of concern is the 67 new deaths recorded over this period.
 
George Regional Hospital is currently under severe pressure, as patients from district hospitals are admitted here for more advanced health interventions. George Hospital currently has 67 COVID patients admitted of which 22 are in high care. They also have 52 staff members who are currently infected by COVID.  “The hospital is under immense pressure and we are trying to make space for as many patients as possible. We have already commissioned 3 additional wards to treat COVID-19 patients, all the while also ensuring we have capacity for other routine emergencies such as trauma cases ”, said Michael Vonk, CEO George Hospital.
The hospital uses a daily average of 2.6 tons of oxygen to treat patients, compared to the daily average of 356kg/day in May 2020 (pre-COVID-19) which is more than during the previous wave (max 2.2 tons /day).
 
Knysna Hospital is also under severe pressure. On 4 December they had 40 patients admitted. “We have opened additional wards to accommodate the increasing number of COVID patients, and have recruited additional staff to assist. We are definitely under pressure, but have effective plans in place to deal with this surge”, said Dr Andries Brink, medical manager Knysna/Bitou subdistricts.
 
Harry Comay Hospital has converted two wards into COVID wards with an additional building, which was built during wave 1, which can take 20 patients. The hospital currently has 28 patients.
 
Testing sites across the district, especially in sub-districts with rising number of cases, are also testing to capacity on a daily basis. Two additional National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) busses have been deployed to Knysna and George in an attempt to keep up with the high volumes of tests needed.
 
Areas of most concern:
Mossel Bay: KwanonQaba, Hartenbos, D’Almeida and Heiderand.
George: Themabelthu, Pacaltsdorp, Parkdene, Rosemore, Borcherds, Blanco
Knysna: Smutsville, Concordia, Khayalethu
Oudtshoorn: Bridgeton
Bitou: Plettenberg Bay
Riversdale: Albertinia
 
We urge residents to be safe this festive season. Avoid crowded places, close contact settings and areas with poor ventilation.
 
END
Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health