POLITICS

Alcohol abuse is taking away hospital beds – Alan Winde

Premier says healthcare system is already under pressure as 1 156 patients hospitalised for Covid-19

Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

9 June 2020

As of 1pm on 9 June, the Western Cape has 12 250 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 33 892 confirmed cases and 20791 recoveries.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases

33892

Total recoveries

20791

Total deaths

851

Total active cases (currently infected patients)

12250

Tests conducted

211177

Hospital admissions

1156 of which 220 are in ICU or high care

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub-district

Cases

Recoveries

Western

3108

2012

Southern

3356

2065

Northern

2086

1457

Tygerberg

4819

3409

Eastern

3189

2018

Klipfontein

3902

2365

Mitchells Plain

3196

2016

Khayelitsha

4217

3024

Total

27873

16876

Sub-districts:

District

 Sub-district

Cases

Recoveries

Garden Route

Bitou

15

14

Garden Route

Knysna

75

49

Garden Route

George

123

57

Garden Route

Hessequa

18

10

Garden Route

Kannaland

1

1

Garden Route

Mossel Bay

44

28

Garden Route

Oudsthoorn

15

8

Cape Winelands

Stellenbosch

440

205

Cape Winelands

Drakenstein

1212

628

Cape Winelands

Breede Valley

575

203

Cape Winelands

Langeberg

81

20

Cape Winelands

Witzenberg

342

260

Overberg

Overstrand

106

60

Overberg

Cape Agulhas

18

8

Overberg

Swellendam

15

9

Overberg

Theewaterskloof

123

62

West Coast

Bergrivier

89

58

​West Coast

​Cederberg

7

1

West Coast 

Matzikama

15

1

West Coast

Saldanha Bay Municipality

191

69

West Coast

Swartland

188

77

Central Karoo

Beaufort West

2

1

Unallocated: 2322 (599 recovered)

More data, including updated suburb level data as at June 1, is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 53 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 851. We send our condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased at this time.

Alcohol related trauma:

A number of our hospitals have seen a significant spike in trauma cases linked to alcohol use since the sale of alcohol was unbanned on 1 June. This is extremely concerning to us as the healthcare system is already under pressure as a result of COVID-19. Since yesterday there have been numerous rumours that alcohol will be banned again. The Western Cape has not made any announcements to this effect, and we have not received any indication from the national government that this is planned. However, I want to be very clear with the people of the Western Cape: alcohol abuse is taking away hospital beds and care from people who need them during this very serious pandemic. 

Your grandmother, brother or sister could become ill with COVID-19 and require a hospital bed. 

Every single one of us has a role to play in making sure our healthcare system has the capacity to respond – please drink responsibly and play your part. If this doesn’t happen, we will have no choice but to explore alternative steps to ensure that this happens.

Groote Schuur testing and triage centre:

Another of the Western Cape Government’s testing and triage centres was opened at Groote Schuur today. This site, one of 18 in the first phase, will provide a dedicated space to screen, triage and test patients presenting to Groote Schuur. 

These centres help to ease the pressure on our hospital emergency care centres, while also separating testing and triaging from the rest of the hospital patients.

 The province has now also begun phase two of this project, which will create 14 new temporary testing and triage sites in the metro, and an additional 20 in our non-metro areas.

Issued by Western Cape Office of the Premier, 9 May 2020