Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

15 October 2020

As of 1pm on 15 October, the Western Cape has 2904 active COVID-19 infections with a total of 112 862 confirmed cases and 105 678 recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 2306 (2078 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. 

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 3 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 4280. We send our condolences to their families and friends at this time.

Statement from today's digicon- to keep moving forward, we need every person in the Western Cape to play their part:

Over the last month, our government has been working tirelessly on our recovery plan for the Western Cape, following the devastating consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa and the world. 

Our objective is to make sure that the Western Cape keeps on moving forward, by creating jobs, building safer communities and achieving the dignity and well-being that every single person in our province deserves, no matter where they live.  

This is an extremely difficult task. There will be no easy solutions, and it will require some very tough choices given the major budget cuts our province will experience from National Government. We will do our best and make the brave choices we need to make sure that a real and measurable difference is felt in the lives of the people of the Western Cape.  

But I want to be honest with you: this recovery may be fundamentally impacted if we experience a new wave of Covid-19 infections in our province and new restrictions are imposed.  

We have been through so much, and many people have lost loved ones during this difficult time. We owe it to them, to our recovery and to all those who are unemployed, to prevent this from happening.  

I therefore ask today for your help. Whether you are an individual, business owner, civil society group or parent: we need you to carry on with the world-class effort you have put in to date, and help keep us moving forward, by keeping Covid-19 on the decline.  

The reality, as we have seen in other places in the world, is that a new wave of infections of Covid-19 is possible and it can happen here too.  

However, we have the determination, the ability, the courage and the knowledge to stop it from happening, if we work together. 

It requires simple changes to our lives that will keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. These are not always convenient, but it can be done if we are determined.  By wearing a mask when in public, keeping a safe distance of at least 1,5 metres from others, by regularly washing your hands, and by avoiding large crowds and gatherings where there is poor ventilation, we will make a difference. 

As Dr Keith Cloete, our Head of Health, will report today, we are currently implementing a thorough surveillance system which allows our teams to hunt “bushfires” or clusters of infections, through contact tracing, pattern identification and testing. It is this surveillance system which enabled the identification of recent cluster of infections in the Southern Suburbs.  

This “super-spreader episode” is an example of what happens when we let our guard down and we don’t make the right decision about our own safety and the safety of others. We have to prevent it from happening again.  

I therefore also want to urge our younger residents to harness their energy and enthusiasm for life in helping us. I have every confidence that we can. Our youth are famous for getting things done in South Africa, so let’s show it again. 

The Western Cape is not experiencing a ‘second wave’, but there has been an increase in cases linked to these “bushfires” in specific districts. If we work together and change our behaviour, the Western Cape remain in a strong position to keep moving forward, by keeping Covid-19 on the decline.  

In summary, we revealed today that: 

We have extended our testing criteria to include all those symptomatic persons in Metro and Rural Areas. 

Our testing has increased to 8779 tests a week (5-11 October 2020), up from 7827 tests a week (21-27 September 2020). 

The Covid-19 pressure has eased off considerably across the Metro and Rural Public Health Facilities. 

Public Acute hospitals are decreasing their Covid-19 capacity and are re-introducing normal comprehensive clinical (non-Covid) services, running at an average of 75% occupancy rates.  

The 330-bed Hospital of Hope (Brackengate) currently has 27 patients and Sonstraal Field Hospital has 1 patient. 

The Oxygen utilisation has stabilised at an average daily use of 36% of available capacity. 

However, also note that: 

There has been an increase of cases in some districts linked to specific bushfires, which our teams are working together to contain.  

While hospitalisations continue to stabilise in the public and private sector, private sector hospitalisations have not come down as quickly as in the public sphere.  

Most of the new positive tests are emanating from the private sector. 

My closing message to you today is that every single person has a role to play in helping us recover from this Covid-19 pandemic. We need to help support local business to save jobs, we need to get our children learning again so they can pursue their dreams and we need to protect the vulnerable and those at high risk. We can do all of this: we do not have to pick and choose on growing our economy and keeping safe. We simply have to change our behaviour, be responsible, considerate and wise. We need to make the better choice in every situation. 

I have every confidence that the people in the Western Cape will rise to the occasion and do this.  

Issued by Western Cape Office of the Premier, 15 October 2020