GEORGE NEWS - The first case of Covid-19 to be hospitalised in George was admitted to Mediclinic George earlier this week.
Hospital manager Kassie Karstens confirmed that the patient is in ICU and is being ventilated, but he is in a stable condition. He is from Oudtshoorn.
A second has been admitted with possible Covid-19 symptoms, but the test results are being awaited.
Karstens said they are happy that the systems they have put in place in preparation for Covid-19 are working well. "Everything was in place and is working as planned. We have emptied two wards completely to make beds available."
The hospital has halted all elective surgical procedures since Friday last week (27 March) and only emergency procedures are being performed so as to have more resources available to fight Covid-19.
"We want to reassure the public that our health workers will work throughout lockdown. We thank the public for all the calls of support, prayers and help offered. We realise again in times like these that we are not alone and that the people of George together with our faith will carry us through this," said Karstens.
42 cases in Garden Route
The latest number of positive Covid-19 cases in the Garden Route released by the Western Cape Government is 12 in George, 5 in Bitou, 8 in Knysna, 5 in Hessequa, 10 in Mossel Bay and 2 in Oudtshoorn.
Mediclinic and GPs work together to free up hospital's resources
He has asked the cooperation of the Garden Route public to support a strategy that Mediclinic George and local general practitioners have embarked upon to help free the resources of the Mediclinic in the fight against Covid-19.
"As part of our increased effort to minimise risk and flatten the curve in the Garden Route, we would like to urge the public to visit their general practitioner (house doctor) first for information and advice during the day (08:00 – 17:00), instead of the emergency centres at the hospitals. Your general practitioner will give you the same information, advice and treatment that you will get from the hospital."
After hours the public may contact Mediclinic George on 044 803 2000. "Please keep in mind that this is an EMERGENCY centre and general questions and information that are not life-threatening should please be kept over until you can contact your general practitioner in the morning.
"With the Garden Route also in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic like the rest of the world, now is the time to change the way we think about everyday occurrences. We ask the public to please cooperate," said Karstens.
The contact numbers for general practitioners are as follows:
GEORGE
Drs Augustyn, de la Bat & Ferreira 044 803 7600
Drs Benkenstein, Neetling, Taylor & Stopforth 044 801 8900
Drs J Botha & A Opperman 044 870 0374 or 076 220 3047
Drs Dykman & Du Toit 044 884 1218
Drs van Niekerk & Lodder 044 874 1772
Drs Shani & Gustus van der Spuy 044 874 2741
Drs Volschenk, Torlage & Swanepoel 044 871 2502
Dr John Beneke 044 803 7650
Dr Gerhard Britz 044 873 6235
Dr Hannes de Villiers 044 873 2985
Dr Marliese Goodman 082 892 3817
Dr Casper Gous 044 870 7896
Dr Herman Jordaan 044 874 3963
Dr Jacques van Staden 044 874 4990
Dr Amore van Zyl 083 281 2054
Dr Herman van Rooyen 044 873 6558
DR4U 087 655 5111
Walk in Doctor 044 873 3912 or 044 887 0121
GREAT BRAK RIVER
Dr Gideon le Roux 044 620 2105
Dr Edwin de la Harpe 044 620 2208
Dr Jacobus Vorster 044 518 0101
WILDERNESS
Dr Daan Smit 044 877 0177
Dr Reinette Vos 044 877 0514
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