Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

22 August 2020

Due to a technical issue with our data feed from the NHLS, our daily statistical update has been delayed. We are working to resolve the issue and will update the dashboard and the stats as soon as the correct data is available.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Hospitalisations:

A total of 1061 people are currently hospitalised in the province, with 220 of these in ICU or high care.

Yesterday, we closed the Hospital of Hope at the CTICC but this does not mark the end of our fight against COVID-19. We must all continue to play our part in ensuring that we are able to slow the spread of the virus. 

As the virus is likely to still be with us for many more months, our colleagues in the Department of Health are also ensuring that we can continue to provide the appropriate level of care to those who may still need it. In the metro region, the Brackengate temporary field hospital is now the primary Hospital of Hope- providing 338 beds. The Freesia ward in Mitchell's Plain, sponsored by the Gift of the Givers will also provide an additional 60 dedicated COVID-19 beds. This is a legacy project, which will allow us to use this resource beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two other legacy projects have also been completed in our rural areas- the Sonstraal Hospital in Paarl will provide 63 beds, while in Vredendal, staff identified and transformed an unused boiler room at the Vredendal Hospital into a COVID-19 ward.

Previously used as a store room, the hospital management, staff and maintenance team set to work. preparing the space so that contractors could start the alterations. The space will now function as a COVID-19 ward, but in the future, will provide additional capacity at the hospital.

Healthcare workers who were stationed at the CTICC will now return to the healthcare facilities they were seconded from, or be re-deployed at other healthcare facilities across the province. Equipment purchased for use at the CTICC will also be used elsewhere across the province, boosting the resources available in the healthcare system.

Previous:

21 August 2020

As of 1pm on 21 August, the Western Cape has 5331 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 102 422 confirmed cases and 93 383  recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts: 

Unallocated: 2934 (2798 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded 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(link is external)

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 26 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3708 . We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

A note on today's new cases:

Today's new case statistics appear to have shown a bigger increase than usual. These are not all new or active cases. The Western Cape Department of Health has implemented changes to its data system which has resulted in some older cases, which had not originally been detected, now being accounted for. This is all part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that the data that we share is as accurate as possible.

Closure of the Hospital of Hope:

This afternoon, we officially closed the Hospital of Hope at the CTICC. This 862 bed hospital has provided care to over 1500 people since it opened in June-allowing us to provide dignified care to all who needed it at the peak of the pandemic in the Western Cape.

The Hospital of Hope has certainly lived up to its name- with many inspirational stories of healing. Among its patients who were discharged were a 104 year old, a 93 year old and an 88 year old. More than 1400 families have had their loved ones recover and go home. 

When we were planning our provincial response to the pandemic, I was clear that I did not want to run out of beds. Providing dignified healthcare to everyone who needed it was our number one aim.

What the Hospital of Hope provided went far beyond that. The hospital was staffed by dedicated, phenomenal people who have touched the lives of every single person they helped. They worked long hours, endured difficult circumstances, made personal sacrifices and they did it while putting themselves at risk of becoming sick themselves. And yet, through it all, every patient was treated with care and respect.

Sadly, 82 people died at the facility and we send our condolences to their families and loved ones. Losing a loved one is never easy, but under COVID-19 circumstances, it is even harder. Today, we heard stories of how patients were treated with the utmost love and care by our healthcare workers, who supported them even in their final moments. 

The CTICC has always played a special role in Cape Town- hosting Presidents, international delegates and captains of industry. It has been a site of celebration, bringing people together for weddings and festivals. And now, its history will also include a hospital that was built in four weeks. It may only have operated for a matter of weeks, but it has saved hundreds of lives.

Today, I want to thank every single person who has been involved in the making of history: the healthcare workers at the front line, the Western Cape Department of Health management team and the team from the Department of Transport and Public Works. I would also like to convey a special thank you to the CTICC, who responded to the call and allowed us the use of the space.

At today's closing ceremony, Head of the Department of Health, Dr Keith Cloete spoke of how the hospital had shown us the best of humanity, and what healthcare in the future could be. 

Around the world, this pandemic has created extreme suffering and deep pain for many but at the same time, it has provided us with moments of hope, kindness and love. It has prompted a global outpouring of generosity and support. The Hospital of Hope will always be a symbol of all the goodness we have seen during this time.

The Brackengate temporary hospital will now be the primary Hospital of Hope- providing the same level of care to those who still need it while we continue to work to slow the spread of COVID-19. It will be supported by a number of smaller facilities and dedicated wards in both the metro and in the rural areas.

Issued by Western Cape Office of the Premier, 22 August 2020