DOCUMENTS

958 Covid-19 patients in hospital - Alan Winde

Province has also recorded 33 more deaths related to disease, says Premier

Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

1 June 2020

As of 1pm on 1 June, the Western Cape has 10 135 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 22 087 confirmed cases and 11 431 recoveries.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases

22 087

Total recoveries

11431

Total deaths

521

Total active cases (currently infected patients)

10 135

Tests conducted

160 448

Hospital admissions

958 of which 181 are in ICU or high care

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub-district

Cases

Recoveries

Western

2046

1174

Southern

2375

1108

Northern

1196

699

Tygerberg

3143

1917

Eastern

1955

1011

Klipfontein

2590

1327

Mitchells Plain

2013

1113

Khayelitsha

2673

1661

Total

17991

10010

Sub-districts:

District

 Sub-district

Cases

Recoveries

Garden Route

Bitou

17

11

Garden Route

Knysna

52

26

Garden Route

George

79

25

Garden Route

Hessequa

12

9

Garden Route

Kannaland

2

1

Garden Route

Mossel Bay

32

24

Garden Route

Oudtshoorn

11

4

Cape Winelands

Stellenbosch

214

76

Cape Winelands

Drakenstein

690

198

Cape Winelands

Breede Valley

295

56

Cape Winelands

Langeberg

34

6

Cape Winelands

Witzenberg

253

205

Overberg

Overstrand

50

29

Overberg

Cape Agulhas

10

2

Overberg

Swellendam

13

7

Overberg

Theewaterskloof

70

17

West Coast

Bergrivier

42

21

West Coast

Cederberg

5

0

West Coast 

Matzikama

4

0

West Coast

Saldanha Bay Municipality

94

19

West Coast

Swartland

86

31

Central Karoo

Beaufort West

3

1

Unallocated: 2028 (653 recovered)

Additional data can be found on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus.

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 33 COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 521. We send our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

National Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize visits the Western Cape:

Today, National Health Minister Zweli Mkhize visited the province to see our preparations for the peak of the COVID-19 curve. During the visit, he was able to see the CTICC hospital which will provide over 850 beds for CVOID-19 positive patients. He was also able to see the now complete 60 bed Khayelitsha temporary hospital which has been built by Medicins Sans Frontiers at the City of Cape Town's Thusong Centre, and which will be operated in conjunction with the Department of Health in the province, giving care to COVID-19 positive patients in the area.

Minister Mkhize was also able to see the quarantine and isolation facility which has been sponsored by Old Mutual as well as the Brackengate site where work is currently underway on a 300 bed temporary hospital.

We were also able to brief Minister Mkhize on our hotspot plan and had the opportunity to discuss some of the risks in the system, such as the backlog in testing as a result of the NHLS backlogs and shortages of testing kits and reagents required for testing.

We are working closely with the National Department of Health ensuring that all of the nuts and bolts of our response are in place and that our approaches are aligned.

These sites are part of our ongoing preparations to ensure that at the peak, which is expected at the end of June, beginning of July in the Western Cape, we are able to offer care to those that require it.

Premier Winde meets with 200 nurses undergoing orientation at CTICC hospital:

Today, I had the opportunity to briefly address 200 nurses who are undergoing orientation training to work at the CTICC hospital. I would like to take this opportunity to again thank all of the nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers who have stepped up to the frontline. We are grateful for your commitment, your care and your work ethic and we thank you for the role you have played in the province thus far, and for the role you will continue to play going forward.

Alcohol sales:

From early this morning we have seen long queues forming around liquor stores across the country as alcohol sales have been re-opened. During the lockdown period, when alcohol sales were banned, we saw a significant dip in the number of people visiting emergency and trauma units. We will be keeping a close eye on the situation as alcohol is responsible for many harms in our communities, including violence, abuse, and road accidents. All of these have the potential to result in increased pressure on our hospital facilities. Western Cape residents must adhere to all of the rules of sale, and, if we find that alcohol is not used responsibly, and there is an associated increase in trauma cases at our hospitals, we will explore the options available to reduce this impact.

The alert level 3 restrictions rely on the people of this province to act with responsibility. This means being responsible when leaving the house and ensuring that we are practicing social distancing, wearing our masks and washing our hands regularly. This also means behaving responsibly by avoiding large gatherings, obeying the regulations which are in place and drinking responsibly so that we are all contributing meaningfully towards the fight against COVD-19 in the province.

Children's Commissioner:

We would like to warmly welcome Christina Nomdo who started work as the province's first ever Children's Commissioner today and wish her well in this new role. Her first day coincides with the start of Child Protection Week in the country which is aimed at highlighting the plight of children in South Africa and the risks that they face in their homes and in their communities. It also coincides with a return to school for some learners in the province following the nationwide lockdown and the lifting of the ban on alcohol sales. For many the return to school is a welcome return to learning, and the regular meals provided by the School Nutrition Programme but we understand that there is still a lot of fear and anxiety for both parents and learners at this time. Alcohol is a driver of violence and as alcohol sales re-open it is up to every single one of us to ensure that children do not become the victims of abuse. The Children's Commissioner post has been created to give a voice to the children of the Western Cape, and we look forward to working with the Children's Commissioner to ensure that the issues children are currently facing are researched, understood and advocated for.

Statement issued by Office of the Western Cape Premier, 1 June 2020