Steady drop in Covid cases welcomed

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - District Health Director Zee Brickles has welcomed the ongoing decrease in new Covid-19 infections in the Garden Route.

As at Tuesday 18 January, the Garden Route had 2 375 reported active cases according to the Western Cape Covid-19 dashboard (George 785, Mossel Bay 574, Knysna 295, Oudtshoorn 223, Hessequa 220, Bitou 216 and Kannaland 62).

This is a 39,5% drop from a week ago.

On Tuesday, 95 new infections were recorded, compared with 213 about a week ago (on Wednesday 12 January), according to the dashboard. This represents a 55,4% drop.

"We are encouraged by the steady decline in new cases in the Garden Route. We would like to acknowledge our partners and the people of the Garden Route for the significant role they are playing in mitigating the spread of Covid within the district," said Brickles.

He appealed to residents to make getting vaccinated one of their new year's resolutions.

"Get your vaccine now so you can have the assurance of protection against becoming severely ill. Remember to get your J&J booster two months after you first vaccination and your Pfizer booster six months after your second vaccination. In addition, wear your mask when outdoors, avoid crowds, do outdoor activities, and ensure good ventilation when indoors."

Slowdown in vaccinations

According to the district health spokesperson, Nadia Ferreira, there has been a slowdown in the number of vaccinations.

The percentage of the Garden Route population over 18 years that has received at least one vaccine dose stands at 55,9% and 38% of the total population of the district has received at least one dose.

A total of 1 120 people received the J&J booster dose and 1 030 people the Pfizer booster up until 16 January. A total of 351 immunocompromised adults of 18 years and older received a booster dose.

Harry Comay vaccination site closes

Harry Comay centre will close permanently as a Covid vaccination site on Friday 21 January. From Monday 24 January, all vaccinations will be done at George Central Clinic in Progress Street. It will be open from Mondays to Fridays.

Ferreira said transport will be available from Harry Comay to George Central Clinic.

High protection among adults

In an online digital conference, Western Cape Head of Health Dr Keith Cloete shared data showing that 90% of adults in the province had protection against Covid upon entering the fourth wave in November last year - from either prior infection or vaccination.

The figure for those who had antibodies from infection only, varied between 40% and 72% depending on the patient analysed in the study. Seroprevalence in the public sector was about 25% higher than in the private sector.

The department also found that:

Vaccinated people living with HIV (PLWHIV) have slightly higher protection, at 72%, than public sector diabetics at 66%.
The levels of protection of children hospitalised for Covid are similar to that of diabetics (about 66%).

Being fully vaccinated resulted in a 3 times lower risk of Covid-19 admission, and nearly 4 times lower risk of Covid-19 death, when compared to those who were unvaccinated, according to Western Cape health data.

Endemic phase

Cloete said the fourth Covid-19 wave appears to be the start of an epidemio-logical transition from a pandemic to an endemic phase where the proportion of Covid cases being hospitalised and/or dying is declining. This "decoupling" of cases from hospitalisations and death is expected to result in future waves that will have an even lower impact on the health care system than the fourth wave.

"Our experts have found that while there were 14% more cases than the third wave peak, new admissions are currently only at 63% of the third wave peak.

Deaths also stand at only 24% of the third wave peak. This is attributed to high levels of protection among the general population as a result of vaccines and prior infection. There is also some early data suggesting Omicron may be less severe than Delta."

There were high protection levels against Covid upon entering the fourth wave last year, according to data of the Western Cape Health Department.

Lower risk

Data of the Western Cape Health Department shows that the fully vaccinated had a three times lower risk of Covid-19 admission, and nearly four times lower risk of Covid-19 death, than those who were unvaccinated.

Dr Keith Cloete, head of the Western Cape Health Department.