CX’s Covid ‘coaster continues

REGIONAL - After a marked downturn in numbers last week, both Knysna and Bitou's figures rose again this week with the latter seeing its highest number of active cases in the third wave. Last week, between 10 and 17 August, was the first time during the third wave that both sub-districts had decreases in active and new cases at the same time. While it was in line with the district at the time, this week is a different picture.

The opposite has occurred, with increases in both metrics seen in Knysna and Bitou. It once again follows the district's trend as, according to the Western Cape Department of Health, on Monday 23 August the Garden Route District had seen a 34 % increase in new Covid-19 cases over the last seven days compared to 7 to 14 days ago.

All sub-districts showed an increase with some increases being quite significant.

As at Tuesday 24 August, Knysna had recorded a total of 7 344 cases of Covid-19, of which 6 574 have recovered, 221 have died, and 549 are active cases.

This indicates a total of 288 new cases in the seven days between 17 and 24 August, which equates to a 15,66% increase (+39) from the previous week. The number of active cases also rose, by 11,81% (+58) this week, reaching the third-highest number of the third wave.

The recovery rate has dropped below 90% again. It now stands on 89,52% (90,08% last week).

The deaths have however increased for the 10th week in a row with another rise of 12, which is still the highest rise in deaths since 13 January, with the mortality rate still on 3%. In Bitou as at Tuesday, 3 675 Covid-19 cases had been recorded, with 3 298 having recovered, 118 having died, and 259 being active cases. This shows a total of 174 new cases recorded between 17 and 24 August, rising sharply by 95,51% (+85) from last week. With the active cases rising by 64,97%% (+102) this week, it has reached the highest number in Bitou in the third wave, and is the fifth time a decrease has been followed by an increase since the start of June.

The recovery rate here has also dropped below 90%, standing on 89,74% (92,26% last week). The deaths have risen by four again this week, still the most since 30 January here as well, and the mortality rate stands on 3,2%.