WESTERN CAPE NEWS - One more person in the Western Cape has died due to Covid-19, bringing the recorded total deaths in the province to 16. The victim is a 45-year old male, but the provincial government has not released where the man is from.
Three more people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Garden Route municipal district since the latest update at 17:00 yesterday, Saturday 18 April.
Mossel Bay, George and Oudtshoorn each recorded one more Covid-19 case and at 19 Mossel Bay is the town in the district with the highest number of infections. George and Knysna are next in line with 14 cases each, Bitou and Hessequa are on 5 each and Oudtshoorn has 3 confirmed infections.
This brings the total confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Garden Route to 60.
The total cases in the Western Cape stands at 866.
Unallocated: 15
Premier Alan Winde said that during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s virtual meeting of the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) yesterday, Winde raised the need to devise protocols for business so that once the lockdown is eased, the country is able to balance increased economic activity with the need to ensure that we do not see a spike in infections.
“During the meeting I requested that we make the wearing of cloth masks when going outside of the house be made mandatory. Cloth masks can play a role in protecting our frontline staff in the retail sector now, and will be a tool as we prepare for the “new normal” post-lockdow.
“I also raised my concerns on the decision to stop wine exports again, after the regulations were earlier relaxed, allowing them to continue. Exports of wine and other agricultural products support a large number of jobs and could contribute to the economy at a time when it is most needed.”
Community screening
Community screening and testing will take place in the following areas tomorrow:
- Northern and Tygerberg Sub-district: Goodwood, Vadco, Ruyterwacht
- Southern and Western Sub-district: Parkwood, Du Noon, Imizamo Yethu, Masiphumelele
- Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain: NY101, Hlengisa, Bridgetown, New Lentegeur, Manenberg
- Khayelitsha and Eastern Sub-District: Zevenwacht (Spar)
- Cape Winelands: Phola Park (Mbekweni), Kayamandi
- Garden Route: Amalienstein, Nissenville, Kranshoek
- Overberg: Swellendam informal settlement, Hermanus, Hawston, Elgin, Grabouw, Villiersdorp, Arniston
- West Coast: Vredendal Noord, Mangaung, Pola Park, Lutzville,Uitkyk Mbeki Square, Piketberg (Spar), Ilingelethu, Marikana, Khayalistha, Riverview
Message from Western Cape Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo:
“Our behaviour now will determine whether we succeed or fail in preventing the spread of COVID-19, this is why it is important even if you’re young, healthy or if you falsely believe that this virus will not kill you (it can), you will do well to stay home in order to protect others, especially older and immunocompromised people who are at greater risk of dying if they contract Covid-19, as well as the healthcare workers who have to expose themselves to the risk every day.
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