For immediate release
1 December 2021

Media Release: Health Platform Update – 1 December 2021

The Garden Route District recorded 74 additional cases of COVID-19 in the previous 7 days (data until 30 Nov).  There are now 15 active cases per 100 000 (one week ago it was 10). Most sub-districts had an increase in the active cases per 100 000 population.  The Western Cape Government remains on high alert following the announcement of a new variant, Omicron.

The district has plans in place for the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, based on learnings form the first three waves.  ‘As with previous waves, our hospitals are currently preparing for a possible increase in COVID-19 admissions’, said District Director for Health, Mr Zee Brickles. This includes staffing arrangements, oxygen contingency plans, decommissioning of wards when needed make space for COVID-19 patients and more.

George Hospital is also gearing up for the fourth wave by ordering sufficient stock of necessary consumables / Personal Protective Equipment,  significant upgrade of the hospital’s oxygen system to treat patients with high-flow nasal oxygen in general ward beds, recruiting additional contract nurses to allow for escalation of services, trying to maximize elective surgery during the current inter-wave period due to lost capacity in previous waves and expected reduction in 4^th wave and encouraging staff and patient vaccinations and  booster injections.

VACCINATION IS KEY

Scientists agree that vaccination remains the most effective tool we have to save lives and that this is even more important now with the discovery of a possibly more transmissible variant.

We encourage our residents to take up this opportunity as soon as possible especially if you are over 50 years old, or if you have comorbidities.

Vaccinations in the Garden Route stands at 66% for the population over 18 years who are fully vaccinated and 42% for the population who have received at least one dose vaccine.

The total vaccinations administered to date stands at 350 194.

VACCINATION OF IMMUNOCOMPROMISED ADULTS

As from 1 December 2021, the following groups of adults 18 and older will be eligible to receive an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine as part of their primary vaccine schedule:

 Individuals with the following conditions:

Haematological or immune malignancy

Moderate to Severe Primary immunodeficiency disorder

HIV infection with CD4 count < 200 cells/μL within the last 6 months

Asplenia

Individuals receiving the following treatments:

High dose steroids or systemic biologics (e.g. for autoimmune conditions)

Long term renal dialysis

Transplant recipients (Solid organ or bone marrow)

VOOMA VACCINATION WEEK

Vooma Week 3-10 December

The third  Vooma vaccination campaign kicks off on Friday 3 December 2021.

Vooma Vouchers for 50+!

The Vooma Voucher has been increased to R200 for those who vaccinate for the first time during Nov/Dec to spend at Shoprite, Checkers or Usave.

Lucky Draw– R1,000! R10,000! R100,000!

The lucky draw has been launched to encourage people in South Africa aged 12 and older to come forward for Covid-19 vaccination.

Everyone who has been vaccinated this year is automatically entered into the five weekly draws. Everyone who has been vaccinated this year is automatically entered into the five weekly draws. That is

if they have been vaccinated by the date of specific draws and by no later than the 31st of December 2021. Their details need to have been captured on the EVDS systemin time for each draw or, in the case

of the final draw, by 25 January 2022.

 Garden Route Vooma sites 4 & 5 December:

Please call 0860 142 142 for more information on weekly sites or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WCGHealth/

Also watch local media and municipal pages for details

END

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Tel: 044 813 1831
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za