W Cape death toll closes in on 4 000-mark

NEARLY 4 000 people have died in the province due to Covid-19.

This was stated in the daily Covid19 pandemic update by Premier Alan Winde.

To date, 3 991 Capetonians have succumbed to the disease. The province reported 2 809 active cases, 106 362 confirmed cases and 99 562 recoveries, as of 1pm yesterday.

The number of tests conducted was 492 760. At present, 687 have been hospitalised, with 138 patients in ICU or high care. There remains 2 256 confirmed cases unallocated, with 2 213 recoveries.

Winde said more residents from the Kanana informal settlement in Gugulethu had moved to the Forest Village Development Project.

He said the mixed-use development consisted of units catering for beneficiaries of different income levels and varying needs, and included Breaking New Ground and Finance Linked Individual Subsidy units.

Fifty-one beneficiaries had moved from Kanana as part of the province’s de-densification process since the start of the lockdown, and 126 of the 150 intended beneficiaries had already moved to Forest Village.

Fewer people had been accessing health-care services for non-Covid-19related interventions in the province while health care was being geared to prepare for the pandemic.

With the peak of the virus coming to a close, the department of health was ramping up other health-care services and urging residents to take up immunisation for children.

“Immunisations are vital in helping to prevent serious childhood illnesses such as measles, polio and TB. Many of these illnesses can be life-threatening, but they can also be prevented through vaccinations,” said Winde. | Staff Reporter