Media release by Premier Winde on Western Cape Government’s third wave preparedness

20 June 2021

“We have enough resources in place and are prepared to rapidly scale-up our healthcare response, where needed”

I want to reassure residents that we do have enough resources in place to respond the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in the province. We are further able to scale up our response where needed.

We have clearly identified trigger points in place to ensure that our healthcare system can identify risks and respond adequately, which have been developed to ensure that we all protect the healthcare system as it is coping with a three-fold commitment – the vaccination programme, attending to COVID-19 cases and maintaining comprehensive health services.

To support our response, we have also scaled up our mass vaccination programme’s capacity to administer vaccines over the past four weeks. Should we receive additional vaccines, we have the capacity to scale up our vaccine programme rapidly.

“Third wave trigger system has been activated”

The Western Cape Government has established a trigger system that is guiding our response to the third wave, and we have activated its first trigger warning.

The trigger system aims to promote transparency using pre-defined markers which will guide our response, reduce transmissions and prepare health services.

The first trigger warning is activated where there is an increase in the demand for healthcare services over the past 14 to 21 days. During this phase, we also see that there are:

• Large increases in daily cases by more than 20% for over a week;
• Overall test positivity is over 7% for over a 1 week;
• More than 15% of hospitals have over 10% of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients; and
• Over 50% increase in pre-COVID-19 hospital oxygen use.

In response to the first trigger warning system being activated, the following recommended actions were suggested to the President’s Coordinating Council when we met on Tuesday, 15 June:

• Strong public messaging on the increase in cases and the need for stricter adherence to the regulated measures particular around gatherings;
• Preparing to mobilize resources for a substantial surge; and
• Increasing vaccinations, where and when possible.

With this system in place, I also called for the application of a differentiated approach, whereby alert level restrictions are considered for each province separately - depending on their COVID-19 curve and trajectory, while also considering the measures that they have put in place to slow the spread. 

“Western Cape Government’s COVID-19 response is guided by a 5-point plan”

The Western Cape Government has learnt from the second wave of infections and has kept advanced surveillance systems in place throughout the pandemic to ensure that we can rapidly scale up.

Our 5-point plan will ensure that we prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. It will also ensure that we limit the need to de-escalate frontline healthcare services; and not interrupt the rollout of the vaccine programme.

The 5-point plan focusses on:

1. Changing community behaviours to prevent infection;
2. Surveillance and outbreak response;
3. Scaling up the health platform’s COVID-19 capacity;
4. Maintaining comprehensive services; and
5. Safeguarding and protecting the wellbeing of healthcare workers.

“Western Cape hospital bed use rate is at 85% and we are prepared to scale up”

We have enough bed capacity to respond to the increase in COVID-19 cases and assist those in need of intermediate care, high care or ICU. Through previous investments during the pandemic, we can bring online additional bed capacity, where needed. 

In learning from previous waves, we have enhanced infrastructure at existing facilities so that facilities remain on standby to come online when necessary. We also continue to closely monitor the use of beds across our province, through a centrally coordinated and professional operation, known as the Bed Bureau Management System.

In the Western Cape, the total general bed use rate is at 85% and our COVID-19 bed use rate is at 17%. But we are seeing a rapid increase in persons requiring hospitalization. Insofar as our drainage areas are concerned: 

• The Metro has 5041 beds, of which the general bed use rate is 91% and the COVID-19 bed use rate is 14%.
• The George drainage area has 918 beds, of which the general bed use rate is 64% and the COVID-19 bed use rate is 12%.
• The Paarl drainage area has 938 beds, of which the general bed use rate is 79% and the COVID-19 bed use rate is 35%.
• The Worcester drainage area has 769 beds, of which the general bed use rate is 74% and the COVID-19 bed use rate is 20%.

“Afrox Western Cape commits to scale up Oxygen supply”

In preparation for the third wave, the Afrox Western Cape plant has committed to scaling up the provision of oxygen as required. At the same time, we will continue to monitor the use of oxygen in the province over the coming weeks.

Both the public and private sectors combined are using on average 31.04 tons of oxygen a day or 44.34% of the maximum production capacity. Across the public sector, we are using on average16.53 tons of oxygen a day.

The public and private sector have learnt many lessons from the previous waves and are working to further address the capacity challenges identified in our hospitals.

“We are prioritising our healthcare workers in the fight against the third wave”

We must prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our healthcare workers if we are to prepare for and fight off the third wave.

Previous waves have taken a significant toll on the wellbeing of our staff and we have put in place an employee wellbeing programme that provides onsite counselling to staff. To promote our healthcare workers sense of safety, we also provide personal protective equipment and are committed to improving our health and safety practices. 

To ensure that we have enough staff during the peak of infections, where health workers most likely to become infected, we have appointed an additional 717 healthcare workers and support staff. They will assist with both COVID-19 treatment and in our vaccination campaign. Healthcare workers will also be offered rotational leave to rest between April and June 2021.

We have assembled a vaccinator database to ensure that the vaccine rollout programme is not interrupted by the third wave. By 16 June, we identified 5297 vaccinators on our vaccine database, of which 3398 have already received the Provincial Department of health’s top-up training.

These vaccinators include:

• 514 doctors
• 3297 nurses
• 267 nursing students
• 370 pharmacists, EMS and educators
• 214 supervisors and managers
• 98 others

We are continuing our vaccine programme among healthcare workers to promote resilience and hope. To date, we have vaccinated a total of 66.12% of our healthcare workers – this includes frontline and support staff.

“The Western Cape Government needs your support to flatten the curve”

The Western Cape Government is prepared to respond to a third wave, but we need your support to flatten the curve and save lives.

It’s up to you to prevent infections and you can do so by practicing the important behaviours that we have learnt over the past year, including:

• Avoiding gatherings;
• If you do need to meet up, make sure it is outdoors, small and short;
• Ensure your air space is protected by maintaining at least1.5m distance while wearing a mask;
• If indoors, make sure you open the windows to ensure lots of fresh air;
• Washing and sanitizing your hands regularly; and
• Staying home if you are sick.

Should you have to gather, remember to keep it short, outside and small – with good ventilation. You should also ensure that you avoid the 3Cs of crowded spaced, confined places and close contact.

While we expect that the third wave will be lower than the second wave, this is entirely dependent on our behaviour. Let’s play part in saving lives and flattening the curve.

Issued by the Western Cape government, 20 June 2021