COVID-19: Winde concerned over spike in Western Cape cases

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has acknowledged the rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations in the province and said this can only be described as a resurgence.

The province has witnessed a 52.1% jump in new COVID-19 cases, with an established pattern over time.

As of Thursday, 26 November 2020, South Africa has officially recorded 775 502 cases of COVID-19. The Western Cape accounts for 127 646 of those infections.

“There is also now established community transmission of the virus again in this province, which means that it is spreading within communities at a faster rate,” Winde said.

The premier said the spike in infections can be mostly attributed to the Garden Route and the Cape Metro.

“Last week, we issued a hotspot alert for the Garden Route, following an alarming growth of cases in the area. This surge has continued to gain momentum and there are now more active cases in George and Knysna sub-districts than at any point in the pandemic to date,” he further said.

The premier said Cape Town was now following a similar trajectory, which prompted the decision to issue a hotspot alert for the Metro.

“It is important to highlight that the growth in cases in the City is being recorded in every sub-district and is not being driven by any one area. This is verified by waste-water treatment testing. While the growth in cases province-wide has mainly been driven by these two districts, we are also worried about the Cape Winelands, which is starting to record a concerning number of new cases,”

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde

The Overberg District, Central Karoo District and West Coast District are being closely monitored given their proximity to these hotspots, Winde has also said.

“This established Covid-19 resurgence in the Western Cape is also reflected in the proportion of positive tests, which has now grown to 16%. This is comparable to the test positivity rate experienced in the Western Cape in early May 2020,” he said.

Winde: Western Cape cannot afford a COVID-19 lockdown again

The premier further reiterated that the province and by extension, country, could not go back to a hard lockdown, citing the economic impact. He has called on residents to play their part to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“There is therefore only one option available to us all. We have to bring the situation under control through our own actions. We have to do everything possible to ensure that we do not get infected by Covid-19 and that we do not spread Covid-19,” he said.

“Every single resident should assume that Covid-19 is everywhere they go and take all the necessary precautions at every point along their journey”