G Route cases rise

Health authorities are providing conflicting information regarding the status of the Garden Route as a Covid-19 hotspot.

Western Cape Health Department district spokesperson Nadia Ferreira said this week that the district is not currently viewed as a hotspot.

She was reacting to a statement by National Health Minister Zweli Mkhize who told the media last week that the lowering of the lockdown to Level 3 will not include the whole country.

Hotspot districts, which included the Garden Route, would remain on a higher level. Popo Maja, spokesperson for the National Health Department, this week said the district is regarded as a hotspot because it is a "tourist area".

30 new cases in past week

A steep increase was seen in the district over the past week, with cases being added to the statistics almost daily.

In the preceding weeks, the number had remained steady at just over 60 cases.

As at Tuesday 19 May at 13:00, the total stood at 102 cases, of whom 67 have recovered.

This is an increase of 30 cases since Wednesday 13 May.

Also in George, where the number had been constant at about 14 for some time, it has increased almost daily.

The confirmed total is 27, of whom 16 have recovered, so there are 11 active cases. Three officials from the George Municipality's traffic section are among the infected.

Over 60 000 screened in G Route

Through its door-to-door method, the Western Cape Health Department has screened a total of 69 663 people in the Garden Route and Little Karoo, of whom 384 have been referred for testing (totals as at Tuesday 19 May).

Ferreira said all people who visit the George Hospital are also screened. Those who have to be tested, are tested. "Private screening and testing are also ongoing, so this figure is only for the department's door-to-door screening and testing."

Death data analysis

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde last week said the latest data on deaths provided by hospitals, especially private healthcare facilities where people have died, showed that only 6% of known Covid-19 deaths in the Western Cape had no comorbidities (underlying health conditions such as tuberculosis, HIV, and diabetes). Over 65% of patients who died had more than two comorbidities. He urged though that this does not mean that those who are younger or in good health should be careless.

"Not only could you help spread the virus, and infect someone who is vulnerable, you could also get seriously ill, or even die, as has been the case in rare circumstances,” he said.

"We cannot avoid this virus - many of us will become infected. Our role is to protect vulnerable people and slow its spread through our own personal behaviour choices, so that more people can receive treatment when they need it."

He said 1 645 volunteers have been recruited to support healthcare workers when the infection peak arrives. "It is estimated that 200 admissions and 200 discharges will be managed per day during the peak."

A total of R725,5-million has so far been committed towards Covid-19 related expenditure across the Western Cape government.

This included establishing 19 quarantine and isolation facilities offering 2 365 beds. An additional nine facilities are being activated, which will realise an additional 2 292 beds.