WC Active COVID-19 Cases Decrease

Less than 10 000 active cases in WC

This week, the Western Cape began to see a decrease in active Covid-19 cases. The province also saw a decline in the number of patients requiring hospitalisation as well as a decrease in the death rate.

The decline in these critical numbers can be attributed to every individual who has taken personal responsibility to help flatten the curve.

MPP Wendy Philander says: “Yesterday the Western Cape Government announced that the province still has under 100 000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and recorded 83 529 recoveries. And, due to extensive planning based on worst-case scenarios, we have not seen the need for full use of all available resources such as beds at field hospitals.

A special thank you goes to every frontline worker, and to our healthcare facilities in particular.”

Data from the National Institute For Communicable Diseases, since mind June to the 1st of August 2020 shows a dramatic increase in unaccounted daily deaths in both Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, whilst the Western Cape demonstrates a steady decrease in both accounted and unaccounted deaths.

MPP Wendy Philander comments: ”Unlike other provinces, we are also witnessing a welcoming decrease in infections amongst healthcare workers in the Western Cape. The provincial government, along with overseeing sufficient and appropriate provision of Personal Protective Equipment, has provided psycho-social support to workers to continually support the healthcare system as a whole.

Overall, we see that the curve is indeed flattening in our province and that the provincial government’s hotspot strategy, incorporating the whole of government approach, is a model that works based on international best practice. For residents, we welcome the health department’s behavioural change campaign, which also fights the stigma associated with Covid-19.”

Although these are encouraging signs, we still need to direct every effort to keep safe. The use of masks, social distancing protocols, and good personal hygiene remains imperative as select areas still need to overcome their peak. We also cannot rule out the possibility of second-waves, as we witness them in various parts of the world.

The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape will use every possible measure to keep residents safe, healthy, and informed.