Provincial & National

20 May 2020

In my briefing to you two weeks ago, the data showed us that community transmission of Covid-19 had become entrenched, with the virus spreading faster in certain geographic areas, mainly in the City of Cape Town and the Witzenberg region.

This was a new phase that we had entered, where the number of infections would climb at a faster rate, pushing our curve up towards a peak.

This is precisely what will continue to happen in the weeks ahead, and which will happen around the country, a few weeks after us.  That is why we have worked around the clock to make sure that our healthcare system is prepared for the peak, and that everyone who needs medical attention can receive it when they need it. (I released a full briefing of our preparedness yesterday, which can be viewed here).

Last week, I set out our Whole of Government Hotspot Strategy, through which we will use the combined impact of all our government departments and resources, including the efforts of other government spheres, to intervene in a targeted manner in areas of higher transmission. These efforts are designed to slow the spread as much as possible, protect vulnerable people who are at high risk, and ultimately, to save lives.

This is our number one mission.

This week, our Provincial Minister of Health, Nomafrench Mbombo and Head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete, set out how our health response will work in this targeted hotspot strategy. Our focus here is to protect vulnerable people who are at high risk, and to prevent deaths. We cannot stop the virus from spreading, and many people will be infected countrywide. Those at high risk need to be protected.

The current status in the Cape Metro is as follows:

• We are on the upward part of the curve as per the nature of the pandemic and are expecting to see case numbers increase more rapidly, with associated increases in hospitalisation and deaths.
• The transmission has been concentrated around essential services clusters (which have been permitted to operate under all levels of lockdown), care homes and in geographical areas where people who work in these clusters live and this has mostly been in the poorest communities in Cape Town. Our hotspot intervention strategy focusses our combined efforts in these targeted areas.
• Testing/ lab capacity is under severe strain. The National Health Laboratory, which is mandated to perform all public tests, simply doesn’t have the capacity to test enough, and return tests quickly enough, for us to intervene with speed as these numbers grow.
• We are scaling up isolation and quarantine off-site, but this will reach its limit soon as the number of infections rise in line with the ascending curve.
• The number of undetected cases will continue to grow unless major increases in testing capacity is provided.

The status update for the Cape Winelands is as follows:

• The Cape Winelands District is showing evidence of multiple clusters and fast spread, which started in Witzenberg 3 weeks ago, and has moved into Drakenstein, Stellenbosch and Breede Valley, in the past 2 weeks.
• Early clusters have emerged in Overberg (Theewaterskloof and Swellendam), and West Coast (Swartland), during this past week, while there are still many areas with no cases or sporadic cases only.
• Testing/ lab capacity strain is impacting on the ability of these Rural areas to detect cases early and move to aggressive isolation and quarantine interventions.
• Ability to isolate and quarantine off-site will be scaled up rapidly across the Rural areas.
• These areas are projected to have a smaller number of undetected cases, and aggressive testing is still indicated.
• There is still great value of individual case detection and contact tracing.

Given these observations, resource constraints, and the scientific reality that the virus cannot be stopped, our targeted health hotspot response in the Metro will now be focused on the following initiatives:

• Streamline testing and contact tracing activities to focus on high risk groups such as health workers and old age homes.
• Emphasise case management with a view to early detection of deterioration in health status through risk stratification.
• Increased focus on mass communication and building agency for behaviour change – individuals and organisations (across sectors). We need residents to show greater compliance with the rules and recommendations set out by government through lasting behaviour change.
• Re-purpose Community Screening and Testing, and Community Health Workers, towards this goal and strengthen workplace/ institutional agency with a focus on prevention through inter-sectoral action.
• Community Screening and Testing focused on reaching high risk groups such as the elderly and those with co-morbid conditions.
• Continue to focus on the strength of our health system including utilising testing appropriately in the clinical environment.

What does this mean for the hotspot strategy?

• The Health Strategy will be aligned to the risk stratified case management approach (where we target those at greater risk), in areas with established community transmission.
• The identification of appropriate people for admission to designated isolation and quarantine facilities will have to be nuanced, in light of the testing capacity challenges, together with exploration of viable and feasible community-based isolation models (via community initiatives).
• Behaviour change in terms of social distancing, hand and surface hygiene and universal mask wearing, targeted on all areas of gathering in hotspot areas will be the key drive.
• Nuanced, agile, pro-active and adaptive responses are required in the local community spaces (in each of the local areas)
• The rate of increase of transmission per ward and suburb will be carefully tracked over the next 6-8 weeks to assess its effectiveness.

To put it simply, we are going to up our targeted approach. Given the limited testing capacity in South Africa, we are going to utilise a more efficient approach to ensure maximum impact, by community screening and testing in hotspots to quickly identify those who may infected and who are at highest risk.

We will also use our testing to make sure we get results for those patients in hospitals so that we can quickly know whether they have Covid-19. This is important to ensure the correct treatment.

Global data, and our local experience tells us that some 90% of people will not require hospitalisation, only experiencing a mild illness. However, some 10% require hospitalisation, and around 1,8% will die. But remember – and this is important to bear in mind – this also means that 98.2% will survive this.

Of those that die, 96% have an underlying health condition such as HIV, Diabetes, Hypertension and Tuberculosis. We need to protect these people, and those of more advanced age, in the weeks ahead as the virus spreads and we move up the curve, towards the peak.

Indeed, our risk projections for the general population in the Western Cape, based on available data, indicates that those who are older (over 55), and those who have one or more comorbidities are at highest risk. This is where we must focus our attention in the weeks ahead.

This health response will also be combined with interventions by other leading departments in the Western Cape Government, and local government partners such as the City of Cape Town and SAPS, including the following additional responses:

• Economic Response
• Safety Response
• Food security & Humanitarian Response
• Places and Spaces Response
• Transport Response
• Resource management

See Premier Winde’s statement on Hotspot Strategy here for further details.

Behaviour change key for general population to slow the spread

A key component of this plan is the need to effect behavior change, so that people adapt to the “new normal”. Covid-19 is going to be around for some time, and we need to learn to live in ways that slows the spread and protects vulnerable people at highest risk. While many people will only have a mild illness, they could pass it onto someone who could get seriously ill and die.

That is why it is so important to treat every individual, small business and community group as a partner. We must work with them, not against them, together towards a shared objective of slowing the spread and protecting vulnerable and high-risk individuals.

We will therefore also ramp up our communications campaign, using a variety of additional tools, and we will leverage existing community leadership and community networks, available public infrastructure, and faith based organisations to help us land these messages in identified hotspots.

We simply cannot do it alone. Every single person can help us in our effort, by staying home as much as possible, keeping a distance at all times, avoiding gatherings of people wherever it may occur, by always following the golden rules of good hygiene, and by properly wearing a clean cloth mask whenever out in public.

Also, if you get sick, you should stay home because you will end up infecting others if you leave the house. If you however battle to breath you must seek urgent healthcare. You can get advice on our dedicated hotline: 021 928 4102.

Moving to level 3 in conjunction with targeted hotspot plan

We cannot return to “business as usual”, and I will not support that as Premier of this province. We will continue to lead major interventions, as set out above, in hotspot areas to protect vulnerable communities and to save lives. This is our top priority.

However, we cannot look at this response in isolation of the economic devastation and subsequent humanitarian crisis that is already developing. Even if we lift restrictions now, over 200 000 jobs are going to be lost in the Western Cape alone.

If we stay on Alert Level 4, it will be even greater as more and more businesses close and people become unemployed. This will indirectly impact millions of people across our province.

We have no choice but to allow more economic activity over time, in a safe and responsible manner, so that people don’t starve. If we do not do this, lives will be lost in the future.

This does not have to be a zero-sum game. We can care for sick people now and intervene rigorously in areas to slow the spread and save lives, while still allowing for the economy to open over-time so that people can feed themselves and their families.

This is the responsibility of a caring government, and it is a responsibility I take seriously.

MEDIA ALERT BY ALAN WINDE

PREMIER OF THE WESTERN CAPE

Date: 20 May 2020

Release: immediately

Premier Winde to hold digital press conference on WC response to COVID-19

Today, the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, will hold a digital press conference over Microsoft Teams which will outline its targeted hotspot strategy being implemented in the Western Cape.

Premier Winde will be joined by Director General Harry Malila, Provincial Minister of Health Nomafrench Mbombo, Head of Health in the Western Cape, Dr Keith Cloete and Dr Melvin Moodley who is the Director of Strategy at the Department of Health.

Date: Today, 20 May 2020

Time: 14:30 – 16:00

Digital platform: Microsoft Teams

 Please confirm your attendance in by 10am and provide your name, surname, the name of your publication and your email address to be added to Microsoft Teams.  We will provide you with a meeting invite to the briefing, upon your confirmation.

19 May 2020

As of 1pm on 19 May, the Western Cape has 6195 active cases, 10558 total confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection and 4363 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 457

Additional data can be accessed on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 18 COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 183. We extend our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

The scientific reason for the Lockdown has been to prepare our health system for the peak

Today I provided a detailed updated on our government’s preparations for the Covid-19 pandemic. The scientific reason for the Lockdown, and which has been made clear by experts, was to buy us time to prepare for the peak that will inevitably come. The virus cannot be stopped and will continue to spread throughout the country.

We have been working around the clock to make sure that we are prepared and that every resident that requires healthcare gets it when they need it. This has included:

• R725.5 million has been committed towards Covid-19 related expenditure across the Western Cape Government.
• We have established a dedicated Coronavirus Provincial Hotline for residents to call, that has received a total of 28 500 calls since 16 March 2020. On average it receives 500 calls a day.
• The conversion of the CTICC into a temporary hospital facility that will provide some 850 additional beds at the peak of the pandemic is well underway.
• In total, this facility will include 4 wards – a mixed staffing model of temporary appointments, temporary re-deployment of staff, agency staff (medical -, infectious disease -, emergency – and internal medicine specialists and volunteers will be applied at the facility).
• It is estimated that 200 admissions and 200 discharges will be managed per day during the peak.
• We will open additional temporary hospitals along the R300 in the Metro, in Khayelitsha and in the Cape Winelands that collectively provide an additional 616 beds.
• This is in addition to the Western Cape’s 2 162 (includes 658 through expansion) general care beds and 150 ICU beds that exist in Central and Regional Hospitals across the province.
• We have opened 18 testing and triage centres (12 are already operational) to provide additional support at these facilities.
• We have 3888 Community Health Workers operating across our province, with a further 464 due to start work soon
• We have increased the number of tests from 7 975 on 1 April to 94 275 on 18 May. This is an increase of 1182%. This represents a testing ratio of 1347.27 per 100 000, the highest in the country.
• Using our targeted hotspot approach, we have screened 473 348 people, and referred 12 095 people for testing.
• We launched an online screening tool which has assisted in screening 62 200 people.
• We have recruited 1 645 volunteers to support our healthcare workers when this peak arrives.
• We have ordered R350 487 835.00 million worth of PPE so that our healthcare workers have the protection they need to care for every sick person. We aim to procure R550 million worth of PPE over the course of the pandemic.
• In the public sector we have provided 86 129 flu vaccinations thus far – 65 670 vaccinations to vulnerable groups of people and 20 459 vaccinations to healthcare workers.
• Since the pandemic, we have de-escalated non-essential operations at our healthcare facilities in the Western Cape, which has freed up existing ward capacity in these hospitals (Central and Regional – in relation to the 2 162 general beds and 150 ICU beds) to care for Covid-19.
• We have 432 ventilators and have ordered an additional 100 ventilators to be used at the peak and use our current piped medical gas for high-flow oxygen treatment.
• We have 19 Quarantine and Isolation facilities available offering 2365 beds.
• We are activating an additional 9 facilities which will realise an additional 2292 beds.
• We have launched the Red Dot Transport Service, that through 100 minibus taxis, will transport healthcare workers home when their shift ends at 19h00, given the limitation on the public transport system to operate after 19h00.
• The Red Dot Transport Service will also safely transport those who test positive for Covid-19 to facilities if they cannot isolate safely at home and others to quarantine facilities should they need it.

For more information on what we have done across government departments, visit the following link: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/news/western-cape-has-prepared-its-healthcare-system-peak-and-must-move-level-3-conjunction-targeted

This is precisely why, that given our robust healthcare system preparation and that we will continue to rigorously intervene in hotspots, we must open more of our economy over time. Not allowing this to happen will threaten lives in the future as an unpreceded humanitarian crisis unfolds, and this cannot be ignored by any level of government.

I want to again reiterate that this cannot be done alone. We need the help of every single person in our team effort to slow the spread, and “flatten the curve”. When you keep yourself safe, through practicing good hygiene, keeping your distance, and wearing a mask properly, you help keep vulnerable people who are at higher risk safe too. Your actions can save lives, and we need every person to continue to be our partner in this Covid-19 response.

Media Release

CONTRACTORS ON SITE TO ENSURE SPEEDY HOUSING HANDOVER

19 May 2020

Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Tertuis Simmers says he is pleased to see that progress is being made at the construction sites he has visited so far.

Minister Simmers said: “Concluding another visit to the Forest Village project in Eersteriver, yesterday and visiting the Vlakkeland and Dal Josafat projects in the Drakenstein municipality, which is part of the Cape Winelands District Municipality today, I am convinced that our beneficiaries will not have to wait too long before moving into their homes.

Forest Village will within the next few weeks deliver 267 units, while 64 will be ready for handover in Vlakkeland. Other Districts, such as the Overberg, Garden Route, West Coast, and Cape Metro are also ensuring that minor repairs are speedily concluded.

We remain committed to improving the lives of the most vulnerable, which includes the elderly, disabled, backyard dwellers and those longest on the housing waiting list

The Cape Winelands District Municipality, after the Cape Metro, has the second highest COVID-19 infection rate in the Western Cape, with 456 cases. The majority of their cases being in Witzenberg, with 205 and Drakenstein, with 134. The immediate occupancy of homes will assist in fighting COVID-19, as it will help to maintain social distancing, while strengthening the practice of effective and good hygiene.

As much as Alert level 5 denied our beneficiaries the opportunity to move into their homes sooner, we have a chance to ensure that there are no further and unnecessary delays. I call on beneficiaries to be a little more patient and allow the contractors to apply the finishing touches to their homes.

We have much to look forward to and I cannot wait to share this joyous occasion with our people.

As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.”

Media Enquiries:

Marcellino Martin

Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers

Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za / 021 483 3397 (o) / 082 721 3362 (m)

or

Mr. Nathan Adriaanse

Director: Communication and Stakeholder Relations

Tel: 021 483-2868 / Cell: 083 263 1720

MEDIA RELEASE BY DAVID MAYNIER

WESTERN CAPE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Date: 19 May 2020

Release: immediately

Note to media – Minister Maynier will be visiting a construction site in Cape Town impacted by Alert Level 4 restrictions this afternoon.
If any media would like to receive video, photos and soundbytes from the site visit, please do contact me.

Opening private sector construction critical to saving over 100 000 jobs

An urgent review of the restrictions on the private sector construction is required if we are to avoid a collapse of the construction sector in South Africa.

And so, today (19 May 2020), I have written a letter to Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, with an attached submission, requesting that under Alert Level 4 restrictions, construction be allowed to expand operations beyond public sector engineering and construction, to include commercial, industrial and private residential construction, together with construction by public entities, and to permit the upscaling of manufacturing of construction supplies beyond 50 per cent sector employment. These proposals incorporate aspects of the draft Alert Level 3 and 2 provisions – all of which we believe can safely be implemented immediately.

It is estimated the impact on the construction sector of the Covid-19 pandemic could cost the Western Cape 111 416 direct and indirect jobs in 2020, and a loss of R14.9 billion in income to people employed in this sector. Opening up private construction as soon as possible, which we believe can safely be done under Alert Level 4, will help prevent these job losses.

The construction sector is a vital component of the South African economy. In 2019, the sector was valued at R172 billion in South Africa and contributed approximately R32 billion to the Western Cape’s total gross value added.

The construction sector was already under pressure pre-Covid 19, having contracted by 3.3% in real terms on 2019. It is estimated that in the Western Cape the sector could experience a further contraction of approximately 41% in 2020, followed by a 10% contraction in 2021 as a result of current restrictions. This translates to a loss of R12.9 billion in 2020 and R3 billion in 2021.

Importantly, the construction sector plays a critical role in attracting fixed capital investment to South Africa that not only supports current economic growth but is also a catalyst for future economic growth and economic potential. By revising the current Alert Level 4 restrictions, we can help to ensure that the construction sector survives and is able to play a role in our economic recovery post COVID-19.

Now more than ever, businesses need to be able to continue to trade safely and responsibly to ensure that we save jobs, livelihoods and the economy during the Covid-19 crisis. The private sector construction presents an opportunity for just that.

Under normal circumstances the sector already complies with very high health and safety standards, and as such, the implementation and regulation of additional measures to ensure safe operations to stop the spread of Covid-19 would not be very difficult for companies.

If the construction sector is able to operate safely for the purposes of public sector engineering and construction, we see no reason why this can’t be extended to the entire construction sector. In doing so, we can significantly impact on the ability for the economy to open in the Western Cape and South Africa, to save jobs and get more people working safely during the Covid-19 crisis.

Notes for media: 

To view the statement online, together with the submission to COGTA, visit: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/opening-private-sector-construction-critical-saving-over-100-000-jobs

Note for business: For more info on health guidelines and Covid-19 resources for business visit: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/frequently-asked-questions/frequently-asked-questions-how-prevent-and-manage-covid-19-infections

Media Queries:

Francine Higham

Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities

(Responsible for the Provincial Treasury and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism)

Cell: 071 087 5150 / Email: francine.higham@westerncape.gov.za

18 May 2020

As of 1pm on 18 May, the Western Cape has 6031 active cases of Covid-19, with a total of 9927  confirmed cases and 3731 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 479  (24 recovered)

One case previously allocated to Langeberg, has been re-allocated based on updated address data.

Additional data can be accessed on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

The Western Cape has recorded an additional eight COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 165. We send our condolences to the family and the loved ones of the deceased at this time.

Recovery from serious illness:

Earlier today, Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo visited the Gatesville Melomed Hospital to celebrate the recovery of Bathandwa Zuzo, from Gugulethu.

Minister Mbombo said: “Mr Zuzo tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted on the 26 April 2020, with severe respiratory problems. He was in ICU and on ventilators for 3 weeks. This also serves to demonstrate the strength of our health system and to showcase our health professionals’ skills in dealing with this pandemic. This is a powerful story of a man who survived the most severe case of this virus, I hope this will give hope to the people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.”

It is also important that we show our support for those who are ill- and treat them with kindness and care on their path to recovery.

Minister Madikizela launches Red Dot transport service:

Today the Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, Bonginkosi Madikizela, launched the Red Dot Service. This forms part of our targeted hotspot response strategy for the Covid-19 pandemic in the Western Cape. This partnership between the Western Cape Government and the minibus taxi industry will deliver critical transport services needed during this challenging time.

This Red Dot service (which refers to the sticker on the bus) will provide a chartered transport service for those Department of Health employees who need to travel for work between 19:00 and 05:00. This is difficult outside of these hours because of limitation of transport under Alert Level 4 restrictions.

From 1 June, the service will also  transport citizens who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are at high-risk of having been exposed to the virus to public isolation and quarantine centres in the Western Cape.  The fleet will initially comprise 100 minibuses and will follow strict safety and hygiene protocols, including the rigorous cleaning and sanitization of vehicles after every trip.

We are extremely thankful to SANTACO Western Cape for supporting this initiative, as we find innovative ways to make sure that we can assist our residents.

Minister Anroux Marais supports creativity for young learners during the lockdown:

The Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport announced educational resources available for young learners during the Lockdown. An online resource portal for NGOs to share has been developed through a  partnership of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport’s After School Programme, the Learning Trust, ASSITEJ-SA, and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The Department is also developing printed materials to be used by learners who can’t access the material online, while the site is being zero-rated.

I am grateful for the support of these organisations, as we continue to ensure the education of our children receives the attention it deserves. To view or contribute to this resource, please visit the Treasure Box.

Minister Tertius Simmers announces new homes as government work continues through the pandemic:

Yesterday Minister Simmers announced that 1371 beneficiaries will benefit from new homes that are ready to be handed over across the Western Cape. This includes 267 houses in the Cape Metro and some 229 housing opportunities in Ceres, which is within the Witzenberg municipality. Our government is continuing to work hard throughout this pandemic to continue to deliver on its mandate, and I am excited that these residents will soon move into their new homes. Improving the lives of vulnerable communities is our top priority and a critical part of the response to the pandemic.

17 May 2020

As of 1pm on 17 May, the Western Cape has 5569 active cases of Covid-19, with a total of 9246 confirmed cases and 3521 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 487 (23 recovered)

Additional data can be accessed on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

The Western Cape has recorded an additional nine COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 156. We send our condolences to the family and the loved ones of the deceased at this time.

Recoveries:

We are pleased to report that over 3500 people in the province have recovered from COVID-19 infections. The rate of recovery in Witzenberg now stands at 70% of all cases, and in the Western region, half of all recorded cases to date have recovered.  These are especially promising numbers as both of these areas are considered hotspots in the province.

The majority of people will only experience mild symptoms and 90% of patients will not need to be hospitalised.  While many will recover without complications, we must not underestimate the impact of the COVID-19 virus, especially on the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. The infection curve in the Western Cape is moving faster, and we are seeing higher rates of community transmission.

Currently, the Western Cape death rate stands at 1.68% of the total caseload. This is in line with international norms.

Our data also shows us that the overwhelming majority of COVID-19 positive people who have died in the province have had one or more comorbidities.  It is therefore imperative that vulnerable residents take extra precautions- by staying home as much as possible to reduce the risk of infection, and by strictly abiding to the golden rules- including frequent hand washing and other hygiene measures, keeping a distance of at least 1.5 metres from any other person and by wearing a clean, cloth mask when leaving the house.

We can all help to protect the vulnerable by sticking to these same golden rules. Those residents who live with a member of the family who may be vulnerable, must be vigilant to ensure that they do not put their loved ones at additional risk.

Our hotspot plan is systematically addressing infections in nine geographic locations in the province, using the skills, data and experience available across government departments. We are working with the other spheres of government, law enforcement, NGOs and faith based organisations, however, we cannot do this work alone. It requires every one of us to step up and take responsibility to ensure that we are actively doing everything we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones. This is how we will stop the spread.

17 May 2020

Within the next month, 1371 beneficiaries, will across the Western Cape move into their new homes. These houses which are ready to be handed over are in various municipal district areas, including the Cape Winelands, Overberg, Garden Route, West Coast, and Cape Metro.

This is an exciting period for all of us in the Human Settlements sector, particularly since contractors have been allowed to return to site, which makes these handovers possible. We are looking forward to sharing this exciting life changing experience with our beneficiaries.

Due to Alert level five/lockdown, houses could not be handed over to beneficiaries sooner. With the return of contractors, we’ve been able to consolidate the potential handovers. In Forest Village alone, which is in the Cape Metro, 267 houses will be handed over. We’ve also just learned that of the 229 housing opportunities that was available in Ceres, which is in the Witzenberg municipality, 160 was handed over just before the lockdown.

I am particularly looking forward to visiting this municipal area to hand over the remainder of the houses. Outside the Cape Metro, Witzenberg has the second highest infection rate in the province, currently sitting at 195. With residents from immediate areas, such as Nduli, Belle Vista, Op die Berg, Prince Alfred’s Hamlet, Tulbagh, Slanghoek and Ceres-town, all set to benefit, we know it will drastically improve the lives of these beneficiaries and their families.

As our continued focus is to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in communities, which includes the elderly, disabled, backyard dwellers, child-headed households and those longest on the housing waiting list, we further know these handovers across the province, will place our beneficiaries in a stronger to help fight against COVID-19.

This is so, as their immediate occupancy will assist in maintaining social distancing, while strengthening the practice of effective and good hygiene.

As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.

Media Enquiries:

Marcellino Martin

Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers

Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za / 021 483 3397 (o) / 082 721 3362 (m)

or

Mr. Nathan Adriaanse

Director: Communication and Stakeholder Relations

Tel: 021 483-2868 / Cell: 083 263 1720

16 May 2020

As of 1pm on 16 May, the Western Cape has 5263 active cases of Covid-19, with a total of 8507 confirmed cases and 3097   recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 474 (21 recovered)

Cases previously assigned to Witzenberg (1 case) and Mossel Bay (1 case) have been reallocated to other sub-districts due to updates in address data.

Additional data can be accessed on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

The Western Cape has recorded an additional ten COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 147. We send our condolences to the family and the loved ones of the deceased at this time.

Today’s statistics show a considerable jump in new infections over the past 24 hours. There are a number of reasons for this large jump: as we have indicated before, the curve of the virus is moving faster in the Western Cape as a result of entrenched community transmission in some of the Western Cape’s hotspot areas. The Western Cape has also seen a considerable increase in the number of tests conducted in the past 24 hours (6150 additional tests), and backlogs in the processing of tests at the National Health Laboratory Services result in batches of results being released simultaneously.

President’s Coordinating Council:

Today, I attended a virtual meeting of the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Coordinating Council. This meeting comprises Ministers, the Premiers of all nine provinces, as well as representatives from the South African Local Government Association.

The focus of the discussion was around the response to COVID-19 across the provinces, and the move towards alert level 3 of the lockdown. We received a number of presentations including one from the National Department of Health.

The Western Cape presented its hotspot strategy to the group, as the provincial response to the number of infections in nine geographical areas. These areas- in each of the City of Cape Town’s eight sub-districts, and in Witzenberg account for a large proportion of the Western Cape’s infections. Using the data and evidence available to us, we will be able to specifically target these areas with responses from across government departments.

All of the information presented will  be taken into the National Command Council Meeting to be held tomorrow, where further deliberations will take place.

May 2020

As of 1pm on 15 May, the Western Cape has 4592 active cases of Covid-19, with a total of 7586 confirmed cases and 2857  recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 127 (19 recovered)

The Western Cape has recorded an additional eight COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 137 . We extend our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

Additional data can be accessed on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

Today marks the 50th day since lockdown was implemented in South Africa and I would like to thank all the residents of the Western Cape who have played their part in helping to ensure that the Western Cape has had the time to prepare the healthcare system.

We have used that time to ramp up community screening and testing- having now screened over 447 000 people in the province based on our active case finding targeted approach, and tested over 11 600 of these. Our total testing numbers have now also topped 80 000 in the province.

We have built and opened testing and triage centres and total of 18 of these will be operational at hospitals across the province.

Work to convert the CTICC into an 850 bed hospital continues apace, and we have put out a call, and received over 1000 offers to volunteer from medical professionals in the province. We are finalising the leases on three more facilities to be used as temporary hospitals, in the province.

We have developed systems to track how much PPE is available in the Western Cape Government health system, and have several more orders in the pipeline.

We have identified and procured quarantine and isolation facilities in the province, and are working to identify more of these spaces so that we can ensure that those who are not able to self isolate or quarantine at home, can do so safely in these facilities.

We have also devised our hotspot strategies for Witzenberg and for the City of Cape Town, which provide a whole of government response to fighting infections in these areas. These strategies will provide an evidence-led and data-driven response across government departments to ensure that we respond effectively, from every angle to reduce both the spread of the virus as well as its impact on communities.

We believe that in conjunction with targeted hotspot strategy for specific geographical areas, the province can and should, move to alert level 3. It is imperative that we as a country and a province, now start to adapt to the “new normal”  and find the balance between protecting our people from COVID-19, while ensuring that they are able to work, and put food on the table for themselves and their families. The hardlock down was necessary but it has also resulted in severe economic hardship for many, and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. It is the poor and vulnerable in our society who will bear the brunt. We need to save lives now and in the future too.

This is what we will tell President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minsiter, Dr Zweli Mkhize during the consultation process.

I would also like to once again thank all of the hard working front line staff who have worked through out this period including those in retail, agriculture, law enforcement and municipal services. I especially want to recognise our health care workers, and those across government departments, who have ensured that we have been able to care for those who are ill, while simultaneously preparing for the peak of this virus.