Premier Alan Winde on Coronavirus Covid-19 cases for 8 Sept

Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

As of 1pm on 8 September, the Western Cape has 2809 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 106 362 confirmed cases and 99 562 recoveries.

 Cape Metro Sub-districts: 

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 2256 (2213 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas. 

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 21 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3991. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

Weekend data:

As indicated in our statement on Friday, we will no longer be providing update statements over weekends. The data is still updated daily on our data dashboard and can be accessed there. The dashboard does however not reflect the number of hospitalisations and we have had some requests to provide these. 

On Saturday 5 September, we recorded 696 people in hospital with 151 in ICU or high care.

On Sunday 6 September, we recorded 678 people in hospital, with 121 in ICU or high care.

Going forward, these numbers will be provided in the Monday statement, for those who may find them of interest.

GDP data:​

Earlier today, StatsSA released GDP data which showed the severe impact of the hard lockdown, which effectively halved economic activity in South Africa.

All but one industry (agriculture) reported steep declines. Trade, catering and accommodation, which is a major job creator in the Western Cape, reported a decline of 67.9% in GDP, manufacturing fell by 74.9% and construction by 76.6%.

Thousands of people across the country have already lost their jobs as a result of the hard lockdown and we must avoid further job losses. This is why the Western Cape has lobbied hard for the safe reopening of our economy and will continue to do so.

The Western Cape has worked hard to ensure that we were able to save lives with our COVID-19 response, and we continue to focus on keeping the people of this province safe and healthy. But, we must put the same energy and determination into ensuring that we are able to save jobs and avoid the second, unemployment pandemic, and the Western Cape cabinet has widened its focus to ensure this area gets the same attention as our health response.

Kanana residents move into their new homes:

The Western Cape Government has identified three focus areas as we move forward and start the recovery process: jobs, safety, and dignity and well-being. For many Western Cape residents, moving into their own home is a significant step in restoring their dignity.

Yesterday, 10 more residents moved out of the Kanana Informal Settlement in Gugulethu and into brand new homes in the Forest Village Development. This means that 51 beneficiaries have now moved out of Kanana as part of the de-densification process during the lockdown period, and 126 of the 150 intended beneficiaries have already moved in.

This catalytic project is a mixed-use development consisting of units catering for beneficiaries of different income levels and needs including military veterans, Breaking New Ground and Finance Linked Individual Subsidy (FLISP) units.

Among those who moved in yesterday, were 84 and 62 year old beneficiaries, in line with the Department of Human Settlements commitment to prioritising housing for the elderly, those who have been on the waiting list for a long time, backyard dwellers and the disabled.

Ensure that your child's vaccinations are up to date:

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in fewer people accessing certain healthcare services in the province. Certain services were scaled down by the Department of Health ahead of the COVID-19 peak to ensure that the healthcare system would be able to cope. At the same time, residents have also stayed at home, and not visited healthcare sites.

With the peak behind us, and capacity available in the healthcare system, the Western Cape Department of Health is now focused on rolling out and ramping up other healthcare services. 

One of the services where we have seen a decline has been in the uptake in immunisations of children. Immunisations are vital in helping to prevent serious childhood illnesses such as measles, polio and TB. Many of these illnesses can be life threatening, but they can also be prevented through vaccinations.

Vaccinating more of the population results in a higher level of protection against outbreaks of these illnesses so it is important that you ensure your child's vaccinations are up to date.

The Western Cape Government is adopting a phased approach to re-introducing healthcare services, and the City of Cape Town's health care services have started operating field clinics to ensure that general health care and COVID-19 services are separated. Staff at these facilities are prioritising the need for childhood vaccinations and following up on missed appointments. They are also carefully checking children's Road to Health booklets and their immunisation status. 

Between birth and 18 months, children receive 14 immunisations, with booster doses at ages 6 and 12. Your child's Road to Health booklet outlines which vaccinations are required and at what age. This document should also indicate which vaccines your child has already received.

If you have concerns about your child's immunisation status, if your child did not receive vaccines during the pandemic or you believe they are behind on their vaccination schedule, speak to a healthcare practitioner about the best course of action.

You can make an appointment at your nearest healthcare facility to bring your child for their vaccinations, which are administered free of charge in public facilities.