What would a ‘mini-lockdown’ look like for the Western Cape?

With COVID-19 cases on the up in the Western Cape, it’s understood that the provincial government is already considering the introduction of a ‘mini-lockdown’ to curb the soaring rate of infections.

COVID-19 statistics for the Western Cape

The data for the Western Cape makes for a difficult read. A surge in average cases, hospital admissions, and daily deaths have got officials in the province on high alert. The figures haven’t been this bad since July, when South Africa was gripped by the official ‘peak’ of the first wave. Now, some big decisions now loom over the horizon:

New cases for WC

• Average last week was 519.1 and this week it's 897.3
• Hospital admitted figure up by over 250 since last week
• Daily deaths average up to 15 – highest point in 3 months

The positivity rate also has been going up with increased testing so not great signs. pic.twitter.com/8YscJ8GlP0

— sugan naidoo (@sugan2503) November 30, 2020

What can we expect from a mini-lockdown?

As reported by the Weekend Argus, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is considering the use of a mini-lockdown to help stamp-out the spread of COVID-19. This would include several interventions that would aim to wrestle back control of an infection rate that has been on the rise since early October. The following measures are likely to be taken:

• A mini-lockdown – or a ‘circuit breaker’ – would reintroduce strict regulations for 7-14 days in the Western Cape.
• There would be no weddings or funerals permitted during this time, to limit ‘superspreader events’ – so no permits would be issued.
• The way restaurants and bars operate would likely change, with ‘outside dining only’ permitted from 18:00.
• Establishments would be encouraged to get ‘more people outside’, utilising the benefits of fresh air and free space.
• Winde has suggested a stricter curfew time could be implemented.
• Finally, opening another field hospital – such as the one seen at the CTICC – is possible