Premier Alan Winde: Update on Coronavirus COVID-19 and vaccines on 7 July

As at 1pm on 7 July 2021, the Western Cape had 25 343 active COVID-19 infections, with a total number of 339 632 COVID-19 cases to date and 301 556 recoveries.  

By 5pm on 6 July 2021, the Western Cape Government had administered:

The Western Cape’s dashboard has recorded 80 additional deaths since it last updated on Tuesday, 6 July, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 12 733. While 80 additional deaths were recorded on the dashboard, this includes data added over a 7-day period, reflecting today. The current 7-day moving average is 40 deaths per day. We send our condolences to the loved ones of those who have passed.  

Additional data is available on the Western Cape COVID-19 data dashboard which also features active cases per sub-district, active cases per 100 000 and 7-day moving averages. To view the Dashboard, visit: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard 

You can also view the Western Cape Government’s vaccine registration dashboard by visiting: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/vaccine-dashboard 

Western Cape Government partners with farming communities to improve vaccine access

The Western Cape Government, through its provincial Department of Health, is working to ensure that all communities in metro and rural regions alike have the opportunity to be vaccinated.

When we began the mass vaccination programme on 17 May, we committed ourselves to ensuring a successful rollout that provides everyone with an opportunity to be vaccinated.

The Department of Health in the Theewaterskloof area identified that there is a large part of the community associated with farms in the area that are eligible to be vaccinated and who would need support.  

Dr Renier Liebenberg, Clinical Manager for Theewaterskloof and vaccination lead in the areas said: “We decided to get into contact with the farm owners and managers to establish a forum and discuss how the Department of Health and the Private Sector can assist each other in getting as many people vaccinated as possible in the shortest amount of time.”  

Dr Liebenberg further noted that the private sector readily offered assistance with the vaccination drive by helping to register staff, provide transport to venues, laptops for administration purposes and assist with administration.

Since the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the local health team have vaccinated over 500 people in farming communities. “This approach is the best to ensure we get as many peopled registered as possible and vaccinated in a controlled manner,” says Dr Liebenberg.   

“By doing it this way, it takes a lot of the pressure off our facilities, especially the smaller ones. It assists the community in getting them and their family members vaccinated, close to their place of work, their transport is provided by the employers and they do not need to queue for long periods at our facilities,” says Dr Liebenberg.

I want to thank all the stakeholders involved in this programme who are playing their part in ensuring that those who are most vulnerable get vaccinated.

Western Cape Government vaccinates 34 058 people at old age homes

To date, the Western Cape Government’s Department of Social Development has vaccinated a total of 34 058 residents and staff at its old age homes.

The Provincial Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, said: “Although the registration for COVID vaccination has opened on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) for people over the age of 50 years, we are continuing to encourage all residential facilities for the elderly, to register their residents and staff on the EVDS.”

“Our elderly citizens are considered a high-risk group in terms of requiring hospitalisation or other forms of specialised services if they contract COVID-19. As such, we are continuing to prioritize this vulnerable grouping in terms of our efforts to combat COVID-19.”

Insofar as infections at old age homes are concerned:

• The total number of residents in old age homes who have recovered from COVID-19 has increased to 2 813;
• The current figures show an increase of 58 recoveries; and
• There has been an increase in the number of active infections from 133 to 136 since the Department last provided an update on 30 June 2021.
   

We all have an important role to play in protecting those most vulnerable in our communities. Let’s play our part by adhering to the golden rules of hygiene and helping to register those who might struggle, wherever possible.