WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The slow decline in the third Covid-19 wave is continuing, according to the Western Cape Health Department's daily update.

Premier Alan Winde said in his daily media statement that he was pleased about the continuation of the gradual decrease.

There are approximately 2 750 newly diagnosed cases per day based on a 7-day moving average, compared to 2 861 new diagnoses last week Thursday. The average test positivity rate for COVID-19 has dipped below 30%.
There are approximately 290 new admissions to hospitals daily, compared to 320 admissions last week Thursday.

Daily deaths decrease
The 7-day moving average for deaths has decreased to 65 deaths, compared to 100 deaths last week Thursday.

"While it is very positive to see these decreases, I continue to call on residents to play their part by ensuring that we keep this trajectory moving downwards. You can do this by practicing the lifesaving behaviours that we have learnt over the last 18 months. You can also do this by getting vaccinated so that you can prevent severe illness caused by COVID-19, which may lead to hospitalisation and death," said Winde.

As at 13:00 on 24 August 2021, the Western Cape had 42 780 active COVID-19 infections, with a total number 476 176 COVID-19 cases to date and 415 751 recoveries.

By 17:00 on 23 August 2021, the Western Cape Government had administered a cumulative total of 1 726 884 vaccines to healthcare workers, staff in the education sector and those within eligible age brackets.

The latest Covid-19 stats for the rural areas. The Garden Route has recorded a cumulative 59 941 cases since the start of the pandemic.Call on residents to get vaccinated"
Throughout the pandemic, our doctors and nurses have been at forefront of the fight against COVID-19. They have spent countless hours helping others and expended themselves both physically and emotionally to save lives. We are truly indebted to them and it is important that we play our part in supporting them by getting vaccinated," said Winde.

A doctor who has been serving on the frontline, says her hardest moment at work is when he hopes a patient will make it and then she watches them not making it. "It’s really not easy. But what brings me joy is watching people, our residents, recover and then getting to tell them that they’re going home to their loved ones.”

Vicious virus, burnout and exhaustion among healthcare staff
De Bruin says while they as frontline workers will face subsequent waves, their best defence is vaccination and she calls on the public to play their part. "We need people to support us by getting vaccinated. This virus is vicious, and we can’t predict how it will affect you. Vaccination is your best weapon to fight it. We must also continue to practice safe behaviour. Stick to the basics by wearing your mask, social distancing, sanitising your hands, and avoiding crowds."

She explains, “At work, you see a lot of burnout and exhaustion. It’s quite difficult hearing stories from colleagues, admin teams, doctors and nurses at different healthcare facilities in the province and hearing that they’re not coping at times. The burnout is real and obvious among colleagues.

"We need you to support us as healthcare workers and our healthcare system. Our residents end up in hospital due to the virus every day and we need everyone to work together to keep everyone safe. It’s really important to see this pandemic as something not just affecting you as an individual. It’s affecting everyone. By practicing the correct protocol, you are making a difference in not only your own life, but in everyone else’s lives.”

She says vaccinations don’t guarantee that you won’t get COVID-19, but they can prevent severe disease and in turn hospitalisation and death.
"So, in the greater scheme of things, vaccines help to limit the burden of disease, not only on people in the public, but also on our health system and healthcare workers.”

Data on Covid-19
Additional data is available on the Western Cape COVID-19 data dashboard which also features active cases per sub-district, active cases per 100 000 and 7-day moving averages. To view the Dashboard, visit: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

You can also view the Western Cape Government’s vaccine registration dashboard by visiting: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/vaccine-dashboard.

'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'