24 August 2020

As of 1pm on 24 August, the Western Cape has 5084 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 102 615 confirmed cases and 93 788  recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 2206 (2112 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 17deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3743. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

Return to school:

Many learners will return to schools across the Western Cape this week, joining grades 7 and 12 who had returned to learning earlier this month. We wish all the children well as they return to school and prepare for the remainder of the school year. We also thank all of the teachers, principals, school staff and volunteers who have been on hand to ensure that the return to school is as safe as possible.

Western Cape Education Minister, Debbie Schäfer said: “There are a just over 800 000 learners in the grades forming part of this week’s phased return to class. However, not all of these learners came back to class today. Each school has a unique Temporary Revised Education Plan to manage the 1.5m physical distance requirement, so grades are attending on alternate days, weeks or using another model. A third of our schools had also previously notified the Head of Department that they would bring some grades back to class earlier than this week, so it isn’t the first day back for those learners.

Nonetheless, it is still a large number of learners, so we are very pleased with how things have proceeded today.

This school year has been difficult for many learners and parents and we understand that there may still be fears associated with children returning to school. However, we also understand that many other parents are eager to see their children back in the classroom which provides a safe space for them in the day when parents are at work. We also know that the extended closure of our schools has had a significant impact on many learners, with the poorest, who may not have access to digital learning resources at home, impacted the hardest.

The return to school must be done safely and we encourage parents to have age-appropriate conversations with their children around the return to the classroom, hand washing and mask -wearing. Children by nature will mimic common behaviours they see, so wearing your own mask, regularly washing your own hands and practicing social distancing when you are outside of the home, will encourage them to do the same.

Reopening of the economy:

We have seen more people returning to work this week- with many of our gyms reopening for the first time today. The reopening means that many people will be able to return to work in the fitness industry and I call on businesses, gyms, trainers and clients to all take the utmost care to ensure that they reopen safely.

We have to do all that we can to ensure that we support businesses at this time so that we can save jobs and reduce unemployment, hunger and starvation.

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.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

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.

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.

12 August 2020

As of 1 pm on 12 August, the Western Cape has 6857 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 99074 confirmed cases and 88 734 recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 4939 (4714 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 28 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3482. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

Closure of Khayelitsha field hospital:

Today, Dr Keith Cloete and I visited the Thusong Centre in Khayelitsha where the team from Medicins Sans Frontiers are busy packing up the 60 bed field hospital they established there earlier this year. The hospital opened its doors at the beginning of June when cases in the area were starting to peak, and played an important part in our response to COVID-19 in Khayelitsha.

In all, the hospital admitted 241 patients and sadly, recorded 34 deaths in the eight weeks it was operational. The team from MSF will now move on to other provinces including the Eastern Cape and KZN to offer their support.

This field hospital was the first to open in our province, worked closely with the Khayelitsha Hospital across the road and played an important role in building relationships within the community.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the MSF team, and all of the healthcare workers and the volunteers who stepped up to help when it was needed most.

During our visit today, Dr Cloete indicated that Khayelitsha  currently has 16 active cases per 100 000 population- compared with 588 active cases per 100 000 on 15 June. We have also seen the number of deaths in Khayelitsha decline to 13 over the past 7 days, compared with 83 in a week in June.

Khayelitsha has really provided us with a real story of hope in this crisis. At one point, the area had the second highest number of infections in the province, and with a large population of people with comorbidities and risk factors, and high population density, this story could have had a very different ending. I thank the people of Khayelitsha, all of the healthcare workers, the volunteers, the businesses, the Khayelitsha Development Forum, the neighbourhood watches and the Chrysalis Graduates who have all partnered with us to slow the spread, and flatten the curve. Together, you have all helped to save lives.

We must however not stop now. We must continue to ensure that we protect ourselves and our loved ones so that we don’t see a second wave of infections and so we can dedicate ourselves now to the work of re-introducing healthcare services that have had to be put on hold, and fighting for our economy so that we can save jobs and create new ones.

Despite the closure of the hospital, the community of Khayelitsha will still have access to excellent care should it be required. We have capacity at the Khayelitsha hospital and at our other hospitals in the metro, and our temporary field hospitals at Brackengate and the CTICC remain operational.

Rural healthcare:

While we have overcome the peak of infections in our metro region, some of our rural areas have still require resources and space to manage infections.

Today, the Sonstraal Hospital in Paarl opened its first 63 bed COVID-19 ward to its first patient. These additional beds will help to bolster our response in areas outside of the metro, and provide a dedicated space for COVID-19 care in the Winelands region. These refurbished wards will also provide additional healthcare resources in the region, beyond COVID-19