Reports of rising Covid-19 in the wastewater made waves in communities last week.
According to the Department of Health there has also been an uptick in diagnosed Covid-19 cases since last month, although not a significant number.
“Our department has picked up an increase in diagnosed Covid-19 cases provincially since mid-September, with daily cases increasing (which has seen an increase from about 20-25 cases per day in early September to 40-50 cases per day in the first week of October). On 16 October there were four active cases of Covid-19 in the Breede Valley and zero-active cases in the Langeberg. In the bigger Cape Winelands area there were 32 active cases. The absolute number of cases remains at some of the lowest levels seen during the pandemic, which is partly due to substantially reduced testing compared to earlier periods,” said Sandra Maritz, a spokesperson for the Western Cape Department of Health.
She says the boost stresses the importance of acknowledging that Covid-19 has not entirely gone away.
“We must learn to live with it by continuing to observe safety and protective precautions. Omicron remains the dominant circulating variant. Vaccine coverage continues and booster doses are given to those who are due for it, especially high-risk individuals. We encourage voluntary mask wearing where applicable, particularly among people who have flu symptoms and/or underlying chronic conditions, and the elderly.”
Maritz further urges people to make use of the various opportunities to get their vaccine or booster shots. Visit coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/latest-vaccinations-sites to find your nearest vaccination sites.
