Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

18 July 2020

As of 1pm on 18 July, the Western Cape has 13 405 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 84402 confirmed cases and 68410 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 7578 (5566 recovered)

Data note:  As we move closer to the peak, the Department of Health is recording over 1000 new cases daily, it is not possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas. 

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 44 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 2587. We send our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

10 day isolation period:

Last night, national Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize announced that the country will be moving to a ten-day isolation period in line with WHO protocols. This means that if you are confirmed to be COVID-19 positive, then the period in which you must isolate is no longer 14 days and you should calculate the ten days as follows:

-Asymptomatic: As it is more difficult to estimate where in the virus cycle an asymptomatic patient is, the ten-day isolation period starts from the date that you tested positive.

-Mild symptoms: If you are experiencing mild symptoms, the ten-day period will be determined from the date you first started experiencing symptoms.

-Severe cases: Patients with severe symptoms who need to be hospitalized may share the virus for a longer period of time. The isolation period is therefore 10 days from when clinical stability is reached.

As we learn more about the COVID-19 virus and how it behaves, recommendations and advice are adapted. The new isolation times have been devised with scientific and clinical input, and are in line with international guidelines.

Even though the period is shorter, I must stress that the process of isolating is no less important. Isolating is imperative to avoid spreading COVID-19 further and infecting your loved ones.

You can follow these self-isolation guidelines to ensure that you protect those living with you:

• Aim to stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened. Try to keep the window open as much as possible to enable ventilation and airflow as this will help to keep clean air moving through your room.
• Minimise the time you spend in shared spaces such as bathrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms as much as possible and keep shared spaces clean and well ventilated.
• Clean surfaces using household cleaners, or a mixture of bleach and water.
• Keep a separate set of cutlery and crockery for yourself.
• Your domestic waste must be double-bagged and stored in the sun for a period of 3 to 5 days before placing it in the general waste bin for collection.
• If during this time, you experience shortness of breath, then you must seek medical attention.

If you are not able to do this, or if you share your home with elderly relatives, or anyone with an underlying illness, it is best to go to one of our quarantine and isolation facilities. You can find out more information about these by calling our hotline on 021 928 4102.

Mandela Day message for healthcare workers:

Today as we celebrate Mandela Day, we must send a special thank you to all of the men and women on the frontlines of our healthcare response, who have dedicated themselves to helping others every single day. To the nurses, doctors, porters, cleaners, technicians, and all of the people in our healthcare system, thank you for your kindness, your care and your service to the people of this province.

Previous:

Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

17 July 2020

As of 1pm on 17 July, the Western Cape has 13 756 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 83480 confirmed cases and 67 181 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro: 

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 7739 (5611 recovered)

Data note:  As the province moves closer to the peak and the Department of Health is recording over 1000 new cases daily, it is not possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas. 

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboardThe Western Cape has recorded an additional 50 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 2543. We send our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

Masks for Madiba:

I would like to thank all of those who have come on board to donate masks and funds in our Masks for Madiba drive ahead of Mandela Day tomorrow. We have received many generous donations, that will help us get masks to thousands more people in the province- helping to keep them and their loved ones safe. 

It's not too late to donate- anyone wishing to pledge can still do so by visiting www.maskaton.co.za/masksformadiba. 

You can decide how much you want to donate and no amount is too small. Your donation will also help to support small businesses and crafters in the province who will be making the masks.

Fill out the pledge form on the website and you will receive an email with further details on where to make your cash donation, or where to drop off any physical masks you may wish to donate.

This is a simple way that we can all help to slow the spread and save lives.

Department of Social Development assistance to ECD's:

The Department of Social Development in the province has re-prioritised R10.2 million in funding to assist Early Childhood Development centres to re-open safely.

The funds will be used to procure PPE, prepare sites for re-opening and to prevent and manage the spread of COVID-19 at registered and conditionally registered ECD services.

The funding will be issued to currently funded social service organisations, who will pioritise the need for support packages based on a defined set of eligibility criteria. 

Diabetes and COVID-19:

As a diabetic who is currently recovering from COVID-19 myself, it is very important to me that those high risk groups, such as people over 55, and anyone who has a chronic condition, are aware of their risk and take suitable precautions to protect themselves.

Diabetics are particularly vulnerable to severe illness once they become symptomatic and require earlier care and intervention for a better health outcome. Research in the province has shown us that many diabetics are only tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at the hospital with severe symptoms such as shortness of breath. My message to all diabetics today is that if you have any symptoms, get tested as soon as possible. This allows us to identify your risk and ensure that you become part of our risk stratified approach to treating diabetics with COVID-19.

The action plan focuses on low, medium and high risk to decrease the morbidity and mortality amongst people with diabetes.

Low risk: Those whose diabetes are well controlled with no additional comorbidities. They will receive daily calls from the Department’s Contact Centre to check their symptoms. Should they struggle to control their glucose level and their condition deteriorates, they will be offered admission to a hospital where their condition can be treated and controlled.

Medium:  Persons whose diabetes are well or moderately controlled with additional comorbidities. They will receive daily calls from “PODS” to check their symptoms and their blood glucose level and, if deemed medically necessary, will be offered admission to the Hospital of Hope where their condition can be treated and controlled.

High: Persons with poorly controlled diabetes, with additional comorbidities and over the age of 70 years old. They will be contacted and offered admission to a tertiary hospital to receive the necessary specialised medical care.

Quarantine and Isolation:

Quarantine and isolation are important aspects of our response to COVID-19 and those who are unable to self-isolate or self-quarantine at home safely, have access to safe and comfortable facilities to do this. 

By choosing to use one of these facilities, you can protect family members and loved ones living with you. This is an important choice, especially if you live with elderly family members or anyone with an underlying illness. 

So far, 4198 people have been admitted to facilities since the start of the pandemic, with 606 currently in isolation, and 201 in quarantine in facilities in both our metro and rural facilities.

Anyone looking for more information or advice can contact our hotline on 021 928 4102.

Issued by the Office of the Western Cape Premier, 17 and 18 July 2020