Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

19 April 2020

As of 17h00 on 18 April, the Western Cape has recorded 866 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro: 

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 15

Data notes:

*Going forward, the data will reported as at 17h00 on the previous day, rather than at midnight in order to allow more time to prepare the daily reports.

The Western Cape has recorded one more death- a 45-year old male, bringing the total deaths in the province to 16.

We send our condolences his family and his loved ones at this time.

Message from Western Cape Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo:

“Our behavior now will determine whether we succeed or fail in preventing the spread of COVID-19, this is why it is important even if you’re young, healthy or if you falsely believe that this virus will not kill you (it can), you will do well to stay home in order to protect others,especially older and immunocompromised people who are at greater risk of dying if they contract Covid-19, as well as the healthcare workers who have to expose themselves to the risk every day.

President’s Coordinating Council:

President Cyril Ramaphosa held a virtual meeting of the PCC yesterday which included Ministers, Premiers and Executive Mayors. The meeting had a strong focus on the impact of the lockdown on the economy, on the livelihoods of South Africans, and on the financial position of government.

During the meeting, I raised the need to devise protocols for business so that once the lockdown is eased, we are able to balance increased economic activity, with the need to ensure that we do not see a spike in infections.

During the meeting I requested that we make the wearing of cloth masks when going outside of the house be made mandatory.  Cloth masks can play a role in protecting our frontline staff in the retail sector now, and will be a tool as we prepare for the “new normal” post-lockdow.

I also raised my concerns on the decision to stop wine exports again, after the regulations were earlier relaxed, allowing them to continue. Exports of wine and other agricultural products support a large number of jobs and could contribute to the economy at a time when it is most needed.

Community screening

Community screening and testing will take place in the following areas tomorrow:

Northern and Tygerberg Sub-district: Goodwood, Vadco, Ruyterwacht

Southern and Western Sub-district: Parkwood, Du Noon, Imizamo Yethu, Masiphumelele

Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain: NY101, Hlengisa, Bridgetown, New Lentegeur, Manenberg

Khayelitsha and Eastern Sub-District: Zevenwacht (Spar)

Cape Winelands: Phola Park (Mbekweni), Kayamandi

Garden Route: Amalienstein, Nissenville, Kranshoek

Overberg: Swellendam informal settlement, Hermanus, Hawston, Elgin, Grabouw, Villiersdorp, Arniston

West Coast: Vredendal Noord, Mangaung, Pola Park, Lutzville,Uitkyk Mbeki Square, Piketberg (Spar), Ilingelethu, Marikana, Khayalistha, Riverview

Statement issued by Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, 19 April 2020

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Media Release: Coronavirus update by Premier Alan Winde

18 April 2020

As of 17h00 on 17 April, the Western Cape has recorded 812 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 13

Data notes:

*Going forward, the data will reported as at 17h00 on the previous day, rather than at midnight in order to allow more time to prepare the daily reports.

**Four cases have been reassigned due to updates in address data. These include two cases in the Northern sub-district of the metro and one each in the Southern sub-district, Stellenbosch and Saldanha Bay Municipality. The laboratories sometimes use patient addresses already on file at the time of testing, which are then corrected during the follow-up and contact tracing processes.

Yesterday, the province sadly recorded two more deaths in the province- a 43 year old man, and a 54 year old woman, bringing the total number of deaths in the Western Cape to 15.  We send our deepest condolences to their loved ones today.

Local transmissions:

While the notable increase of new infections reflects the increased testing being conducted in the province, it is clear from the data that transmission in our communities is increasing. Of the 812 confirmed cases of COVID-19 today, 500 are confirmed local transmission cases.

We all have a part to play in stopping the spread. The most important thing you can do, for your health and the health of your loved ones, is to stay at home. Abiding by the lockdown regulations is of utmost importance as it prevents the spread of the virus, ensures that our health systems are not overwhelmed and it protects the sick, the elderly and the vulnerable. In short, staying at home will save lives.

If you are an essential worker, or must leave home to go to the supermarket, pharmacy, to collect a grant or to get medical attention, ensure that you wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer, keep a distance of 1.5 metres from any other person, and wear a clean, cloth mask. Do not touch your face or your mask and if you are ill, stay at home. If you experience flu-like symptoms, call the national or provincial coronavirus hotlines on 0800 029 999 or 021 928 4102 so they can advise you on steps to take.

Community screenings:

We have continued with the scale up of the community screening process and have thus far conducted 62 509 screenings across the province. A total of 3195 tests have also been conducted as part of this process.

Screening and testing, in combination with the lockdown process, hygiene measures and social distancing are the best tools we have in the fight against the coronavirus.

Statement issued by Alan Winde, Western Cape Premier, 18 April 2020

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Update on the Coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

17 April 2020

As of 00h01 on 17 April, the Western Cape has recorded 743 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

 Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 15

Last night, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize officially announced a further six deaths that have occurred in the Western Cape over the past few days, bringing the total deaths in the province to 13. The six are all women, aged 43, 51, 56, 59, 68 and 86. We send our condolences to all of their loved ones at this difficult time.

While many who contract COVID-19 will recover, each new death we record is a somber reminder of the seriousness of the situation we are dealing with. We must all be doing everything we can to stop the spread, to protect ourselves and the most vulnerable, and to save lives.

Community screening update:

Yesterday, we recorded our most successful single day of screening to date- with 12 381 people screened in communities across the province. This brings the total number of people screened in the province to 41 099- with 2782 people tested since community screenings started at the beginning of the month.

Our thanks go out to those healthcare workers on the ground doing the screening and testing as well as all of those who have taken part. We continue to call on communities to welcome and to protect our community healthcare workers who are performing this service with the best interests of our residents at heart.

Changes to regulations:

We note the announcements made by the national government yesterday regarding changes to the regulations. We welcome those regarding the operation of hardware stores, IT, electrical and plumbing repair services and the sale of essential baby goods. Some of these, such as the sale of hardware and baby goods, were among the proposed amendments the province submitted to COGTA earlier this month.

Going forward, we would also like to see regulations on the sale of stationery and electronics such as phones and laptops, that are necessary for school learners, students and businesses operating from home. I will continue to advocate on national platforms for the opening to market of these goods as soon as possible.

We note the about-turn in regulations around the transport of wine for export, which is now blocked again. Wine exports are important in the province, supporting a large number of jobs and contributing significantly to the economy. The about-turn from last week, when exports were unblocked, has caused significant confusion and we will be writing to the national government for urgent clarity in this regard.

Statement issued by Alan Winde, Western Cape Premier, 17 April 2020

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Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

16 April 2020 

Today would have marked the final day of the original lockdown period and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to those residents who have taken it seriously, who have abided by the rules and have helped us to stop the spread.

We understand that this is hard- we have never faced a situation of this nature in this country before. But every single person who has complied has played a very important role in ensuring that we are able to reduce the number of infections, protect vulnerable groups and ultimately, to save lives.

The next two weeks of lockdown are an opportunity for us to do even more to stop the spread. The more we do now, the more time we have to prepare ourselves and all of our systems, and the more lives we will be able to save.

Situational update:

As of 00h01 on 16 April, the Western Cape has recorded 702 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro: 

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

 * Due to updates to address data, two cases from Stellenbosch have been re-assigned to a different sub-district. 

Health systems response:

As the national government’s modeling has indicated, the lockdown has delayed the curve of the Coronavirus pandemic, buying us time to prepare our healthcare systems to properly cater to the need that will arise at this time.

Yesterday, the we opened the temporary testing and triage unit at Mitchells Plain hospital. This is one of 17 such planned units, which help to alleviate the pressure on our emergency centres and allow us to screen, test and assist patients separately from the hospital’s other services.

This is just one aspect of our planning. We have also identified various sites to be used as temporary hospital facilities.

These plans include three additional temporary acute treatment facilities where patients will be admitted and receive supportive treatment. We are planning two such facilities in the metro region, and a third in one of our non-metro areas. Each site will provide us with an additional 300-650 beds.

We are in the advanced stages of planning and negotiation on some of these sites and will make announcements in this regard shortly.

As community screening and testing continues to reach more people, the need for isolation and quarantine facilities will increase. This enables us to place people, who may not be able to isolate or quarantine in their homes, into safe facilities. We already have a number of sites available to us which have been in use up until now.

The Western Cape Government does not reveal the location of these sites in order to protect patient privacy.

Volunteers:

The Western Cape launched its recruitment drive for volunteers with medical experience, on 3 April. Since then, we have received 854 responses to the call, which we are currently reviewing. We thank all of these people for offering to step up to the frontline to assist the thousands of Western Cape Government healthcare workers who have already been activated, or who stand ready to respond to increased admissions as a result of COVID-19.

Those still wishing to volunteer can fill out the form available at: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/department-of-health/volunteer-recruitment-questionnaire

Community screening and testing update:

Since community screening started on 4 April, we have screened 28 718 people and tested 2102 people.

In total, the province has conducted 12 785 tests for COVID-19.

We have had an overwhelmingly positive response to community testing, which was drastically scaled up this week. Testing has been targeted at areas where community transmissions have occurred and in high density areas where the risk of further infection, or infection of vulnerable groups, is higher.

The screening is designed to be agile and to react quickly to new pockets of infection.

This has been especially important as over the past week we have registered a number of cases linked to supermarkets. Supermarkets are one of the few spaces during a lockdown where members of the public interface, and it is therefore crucial that those who shop take excellent hygiene and social distancing precautions, including hand sanitizing, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the crook of the elbow and ensuring that there is physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres. We also encourage the use of clean, cloth masks.

We have worked with these supermarkets to screen, test and isolate cases and to ensure close contacts quarantine themselves.

Stores have also been closed to allow for deep cleaning so as to ensure they are safe for customers.

We have also as a result, pro-actively developed protocols to be used in the retail sector, and will be meeting with supermarket representatives soon in order to discuss these.

The public is urged to only leave the home when absolutely necessary. Where possible, shopping should only be done by one family member, and by the healthiest person in the home.

Those who feel ill must stay at home. Anyone experiencing symptoms can call the national or provincial hotline numbers in order to be advised of the best course of action.

Repatriation efforts:

Our provincial JOC, together with the South African Police Services have been hard at work planning and executing several repatriation operations.

In total 5276 people have been repatriated to Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, France, the USA, Belgium, Canada, Brazil and Switzerland.

Some of these operations have been logistically complex-with several flights taking off on the same day. We thank all of those involved in helping to ensure that these operations have been done with the highest regard for the safety of all of those involved.

The extension of the lockdown period has seen increased demand among foreign visitors wanting to return home. We will continue to work closely with the various embassies and consulates in order to accommodate their requests. Those wishing to return home must liaise with their various embassies or consulates in order to arrange this.

Statement issued by Alan Winde, Western Cape Premier, 16 April 2020