The Western Cape’s health services are fully prepared for the peak of the Covid 19 pandemic and the province could be moved to level 3, says Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde.
“We must remember that the scientific reason for the restriction was to give us time to prepare for the peak. Covid-19 cannot be stopped and many people will become ill in the coming weeks. The key measure that should be used to determine the levels of containment is whether the provinces are ready to provide each person with the necessary care when they need it. Premier Winde says they believe the entire Western Cape can move to level 3,”.
He says progress has already been made to convert the Cape Town International Convention Center (KCS) into a temporary 850-bed field hospital. Another field hospital with 660 additional beds will be set up along the R300 in the metro, in Khayelitsha and also in the Winelands district.
This is in addition to the 2 162 beds in general hospitals and 150 beds in high care units in the province.
3,888 community workers have already been deployed and a further 464 will be added soon.
The Western Cape has also conducted the highest number of tests per capita of all provinces (1,347.27 per 100,000 inhabitants) so far.
Focus is on key points with a high number of infections. A total of 473 348 people have already been screened through screening processes of which 12 095 have been referred for coronavirus testing.
4363 residents have recovered from Covid-19 in the Western Cape. As of 1pm on 19 May, the Western Cape has 6195 active cases, 10558 total confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection and 4363 recoveries.
