“We all need to get behind flattening the curve in this Province,” said Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde during his digital press conference this morning.
Joining Winde was Western Cape Minister for Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo and the Western Cape Head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete.
Winde said that the Western Cape has been preparing for the third wave, but stresses that residence should not relax and they should not “over test the system”.
“Please we must remember that it is up to every one of us now to play our part in flattening this curve,” Winde said.
He said that there now is an extra burden on the front line workers, because at the same time as managing the third wave they are also managing the roll out of the vaccines.
Cloete explained that over the last two weeks there was a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases with an average of 1 039 new positive diagnoses each day in the Western Province. He said that hospital admissions are increasing with an average of 86 new admissions per day and deaths increasing with 15 deaths a day.
Currently 1 180 patients are in hospital with Covid-19, an increase of 68% since mid-May.
According to Cloete in the Cape Winelands, quarantine and isolation sites are seeing an increase in admissions and the Cape Winelands is also seeing an increase in private sector cases.
He said residence have the opportunity to flatten and spread out the third wave and in doing so take off the pressure from the health care system.
“People now need to go and focus on those small gatherings. The ones that’s spreading this, the birthday parties, the getting together for Mother’s Day or celebrating a significant birthday. All of those are now your big spreaders,” Cloete said.
He urged people to be mindful and to limit their contact with people outside of their household.
According to Cloete it is this kind of vigilance and rigor, especially if you have a vulnerable person inside your bubble, people need to have.
“Your bubble is only as safe as all of the people in your bubble,” Cloete said.
Regarding vaccinations Cloete said that the Province now has 3 398 trained vaccinators to date.
“When you hear the story of somebody coming for their vaccination and why they are treated with such care and compassion, it is because what vaccination represents for health care workers, is while you deal with the despair and the real loss of people dying of Covid, we are offering a vaccination which represents hope and optimism. That is such a powerful thing that drives the behavior of our health care workers at this point in time,” Cloete said.
Cloete also said that there was always a proposal that when the Province get to about 70% of the target population for vaccinating over 60’s, they will then move on to the vaccination of those 50-59 years old.
“We are expecting an announcement on that 50-59 age band. We are expecting it within the next week, because it is coming closer that that age band should start being activated. We are preparing for whenever the announcement is, that we are ready to go into that as well.”
On 22 June the Western Cape received 26 400 of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be used for educator only.
He said they are expecting to receive 191 880 Phizer vaccines today or tomorrow which is to be used in a two-week period. According to Cloete they will also receive confirmation in the coming week from National Government about when the Johnson & Johnson vaccine supply will start getting added to the roll out programme for vaccinations.
Cloete explained that residence who got their first shot of the Phizer vaccine in week 1 will get their second shot from this coming Monday (28 June) onwards.
Patients will be informed via SMS of their next appointment date three days prior to the date for their second shot. The waiting period between the first and second dose is now a minimum of 42 days. If you do not receive a second appointment date and 42 days have passed since your first dose, you should call the Department of Health on 0860 142 142 for further assistance.
Patients should note that they may be allocated to get their second shot at a different site as more sites have been added since the start of the vaccinations.
Cloete said not everyone will get their second shot on exactly 42 days, but close to 42 days. He said it is safe to get the second shot up to 70 days after you got your first shot.
