Spike in Covid infections could start third wave

THE Western Cape is officially in a Covid-19 resurgence which could be the potential start to a third wave, depending on the behaviour of citizens.

This according to provincial Health Department officials in the latest Covid-19 update yesterday.

“We are in-between a second and a third wave. It’s not quite the start of a third wave but it’s the early sign.

We’ve had a significant increase in cases, and this is the time for us to ... flatten that curve,” department head Dr Keith Cloete said.

“For every 10 active positive cases, we get 12 new cases, and that’s why we’ve gone into a resurgence.

“We are now seeing on average 170 new diagnoses each day and there has been a 39% week on week increase. On average, we are having 29 admissions and four deaths each day.”

Three specific areas that showed the highest increase in cases in the private sector are Eastern (around Somerset West) with a 41% increase, Western (around Milnerton) with a 29% increase, Northern (Durbanville and surrounds) with a 24% increase.

“A relaxation in behaviour has given rise to this resurgence in the Western Cape,” said Cloete.

Currently there are 757 Covid patients in acute hospitals (427 in public hospitals and 330 in private hospitals).

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has promised that South Africa will accelerate the vaccination programme when the second phase gets under way on Monday.

He said it was their plan to speed up the vaccination of the people.

“That is important for us to indicate that we would like to see the speed of vaccination picking up, and we expect that it will be so.

“Hopefully, during the course of the week this delay with Johnson & Johnson will be released and therefore we will not have one million (doses) by then; we will have two million so that we pick up the speed.

“We do want to see the speed of vaccination being accelerated,” said Mkhize.

“By Monday, when we start, we will be having a million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and we want again to encourage all our health-care workers that they will be vaccinated as part of the completion of the first phase.

“At the same time we will be encouraging the general public, particularly those over 60 and those with co-morbidities, that they will be approached to indicate when they will be starting. We will start with those over 60 years of age.”

Community behaviour remained the cornerstone for containing the disease, he added.

Premier Alan Winde said vaccination sites would be brought online gradually.

“Vaccine delivery to the Western Cape is on a weekly basis, with the first 30420 arriving this week, for the commencement of phase 2 next week.

“We expect the second phase of the vaccination programme to gain momentum by the end of May, as the largest tranche of vaccines (approximately 260000 doses from Johnson & Johnson) arrive in the Western Cape,” he said.

To register, visit www. westerncape.gov.za and click on the link.

You can also dial *134*832# and follow the prompts (FREE on all South African networks), or WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 060 012 3456.