Knysna, Bitou might have reached 3rd wave plateau
REGIONAL - For the first time since the start of the third wave, the number of total new cases has dropped in Knysna while the number of active cases has decreased in Bitou. According to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, South Africa officially entered the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic on 10 June. The last time Knysna's total new cases dropped was on 8 June, before the start of the third wave. The same can be said for the number of active cases in Bitou, which last dropped on 1 June. Drops in these two metrics could very well indicate a slowing of the third wave in our region.
As at Tuesday 20 July, Knysna had recorded a total of 5 879 cases of Covid-19, of which 5 228 have recovered, 182 have died, and 469 are active cases. This indicates a total of 236 new cases in the seven days between 13 and 20 July, which equates to a 6,35% decrease (-16) from last week. The number of active cases rose by 4,69% (+21) this week, less than the previous week's rise. The deaths have increased by seven for the third week in a row.
In Bitou as at Tuesday, 3 142 Covid-19 cases had been recorded, with 2 917 having recovered, 107 having died, and 118 being active cases. This shows a total of 53 new cases recorded between 13 and
20 July, rising by seven (15,22%) from last week. Having dropped by 6,35% (-8) this week, the first drop since 1 June, there is a welcome break in the rise of active cases. The death tally has increased by one this week.