Bitou and Knysna double down
REGIONAL - For the first time since the start of the third wave, both the active and total new cases in Knysna as well as Bitou have decreased, despite Knysna seeing a sharp increase in deaths. In the past two months there have been a few instances where one of the two sub-districts benefited from a drop in one or both of the metrics, but the week between 10 and 17 August is the first time during the third wave that both sub-districts have double decreases at the same time. This is largely in line with what is happening across the Garden Route, where the district saw a 19% decrease in new Covid-19 cases between 9 and 16 August compared to the 7-14 days prior, according to the Department of Health. All sub-districts within the Garden Route had decreases, except Hessequa, which increased.
As at Tuesday 17 August, Knysna had recorded a total of 7 056 cases of Covid-19, of which 6 356 have recovered, 209 have died, and 491 are active cases. This indicates a total of 249 new cases in the seven days between 10 and 17 August, which equates to a 13,54% decrease (-39) from the previous week. The number of active cases also dropped, by 26,72% (-179) this week, which is the biggest drop in active cases since 30 December 2020. The recovery rate rose for the first time in three weeks and reached the 90% threshold for the first time since 6 July. It now stands on 90,08% (87,26% last week). The deaths have however increased for the ninth week in a row with the largest rise (+12) since 13 January, with the mortality rate back to 3%. In Bitou as at Tuesday, 3 501 Covid-19 cases had been recorded, with 3 230 having recovered, 114 having died, and 157 being active cases. This shows a total of 89 new cases recorded between 10 and 17 August, falling by only 5,3% (-5) from last week. With the active cases dropping by 16,93% (-32) this week, it is the fourth time in the third wave that an increase has been followed by a decrease in Bitou. The recovery rate has risen again to 92,26% (91,24% last week).
The deaths have risen by four this week, also the most since 30 January, and the mortality rate stands on 3,3%.