Fewer new Covid cases in Garden Route

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Garden Route District Health Director Zee Brickles has welcomed a drop in new Covid-19 cases reported over the last seven days compared with the previous 7 to 14 days. The cases per 100 000 have dropped from 823 one week ago to 756.

"We are optimistic that we are in a downward trend," said Brickles. All sub-districts had decreases except for Bitou, which essentially stayed the same.

"Our staff have been hard at work balancing Covid-19 cases, routine services and also the roll-out of the vaccination programme. They are emotionally and physically tired, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our employees, those on the frontline and those working behind the scenes," Brickles said.

Nadia Ferreira, Garden Route Health spokesperson, said George Hospital remains under pressure. "On 31 August there were 54 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, of whom 16 are in critical care. Harry Comay Hospital, the step-down facility for George Hospital, is less busy and has 16 patients in the two wards."

Oudtshoorn Hospital is experiencing pressure due to Covid-19 admissions. The hospital currently has 28 patients.

Of the two million vaccines administered in the Western Cape as on 30 August, 191 229 were in the Garden Route.

Ferreira said roving vaccination teams are still visiting as many communities in far-lying areas as possible, as well as farm workers, big factories and tertiary education centres.

"The district's first weekend vaccination site is Knysna Town Hall on Saturday 4 September from 09:00 to 14:00. More sites are planned to come on board in the near future. Communities are currently rife with misinformation regarding the vaccine, which makes it difficult for people to make an informed decision."

Credible information is available on the website coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za.

At least 1 shot for all adults by December

National health minister Dr Joe Phaahla this week said all adults should have received at least one vaccine dose by December and the government is to prioritise children once this has been accomplished.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) said that an increase in weekly incidence of new cases among youngsters under 20 years has been reported by different provinces since week 27 of 2021. Community transmission has added to case numbers and clusters were also reported from schools following the reopening of private and public schools in weeks 30 and 31.

"The increase in cases in children in the third wave could in part be driven by the immunity gap in this age group as adults were more affected than children in the first two waves."

This graph of the Western Cape Health Department shows how the third wave is lingering longer than the first two waves.

Management to be adapted

Phaahla said the National Coronavirus Command Council is looking at ways to manage the pandemic with fewer restrictions, so as to reduce economic disruption and allow more social activities and services to resume fully.

He said in the long term the aim is to achieve population immunity so that the majority of people can be economically active.

He raised concern over the third wave that is continuing to behave in an unpredictable manner, different from the first and second waves. It is taking longer to subside than the first two, which could be harmful to health services with the fourth wave looming.

The case trajectory had showed an initial steep downward trend since 9 July, but since 13 August cases started to trend upwards. This fluctuation can also be seen in individual provinces such as the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Free State.