WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Western Cape Province reported five new Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday 21 April, bringing the total number of people succumbing to the virus to 22.

The people who passed away were three men aged 43, 49 and 79 and two women aged 54 and 95 respectively.

According to a statement issued by Premier Alan Winde, as of Tuesday 21 April at 17:00, the Western Cape has 1 068 confirmed cases, of whom 229 have recovered.

The total active cases (currently infected patients) are 817. Of these, 43 are in hospital with 19 in ICU.
Of the national total of 3 465 confirmed cases, 58 people have died.

"The province has now recorded its 20 000th test for COVID-19. Screening and testing are among the tools we can use to fight this pandemic, showing us where we need to concentrate our efforts. We thank all of those who have gone to get screened or tested, as well as the thousands of doctors, nurses and community health care workers who are part of our community screening and testing efforts," says Winde.

He expresses deep concern that the screening and testing teams continue to come under attack in communities. "These teams are vital in our response to COVID-19 and any attack on them hinders our ability to respond effectively to this pandemic."

The Western Cape Government’s scenario planning shows that at its peak, the province expects approximately 80 000 people to be infected and symptomatic. About 90% of these will recover at home but we still anticipate a shortfall of 1000 beds in acute and 750 beds in critical care.
"We are planning field hospitals to account for the need for acute beds, but even in the best-case scenario and with private beds, we will have a shortfall in critical care beds, which is driven by a shortage in critical care nurses. This is why it is so important that every person continues to play their part in flattening the curve, so that our healthcare system can manage with the increase in Covid-19 patients. Every single person has a role to play," says Winde.

Health Minister, Nomafrench Mbombo stresses that in flattening the curve, the cooperation of the public is needed. "I cannot emphasize this enough, stay at home and leave your house only when necessary. When you enter a clinic, hospital, shop, office, petrol station, bus, or taxi or any other place there there are people, rub our hands with an alcohol-based hand-sanitizer and make sure that you keep distance between yourself and anyone else."

In response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcements last night, Mbombo says the COVID-19 pandemic has already resulted in huge economic pressure being placed on people across the country. "As a result, we have seen a drastic increase in the number of families in the province who are unable to afford basic necessities like food and electricity. The R200 billion loan scheme with the major banks will also allow companies in distress to continue to pay salaries and cover operational costs, thereby further helping to protect jobs.

"We welcome these efforts to support our economy and vulnerable communities; but we also now need much more detail on how this will be executed going forward."

She says the Western Cape cabinet also received a briefing from the Solidarity Fund today (Wednesday 22 April) regarding their humanitarian and medical response across the country. The Solidarity Fund has been working with Western ape disaster management teams in line with their efforts to map all the relief currently being offered in the province.
"We need a coordinated humanitarian relief approach so that no vulnerable person is left behind. We welcome their efforts to roll out relief quickly to those who need it most and we look forward to working together with them going forward."

Looting
She said over the past few days, there has been an increased number of incidents of looting and public violence. "We are facing a major humanitarian crisis across South Africa, as the impact of the lock-down hits vulnerable people. This worries me tremendously, and we have taken a number of steps to help as much as possible. Thousands of NGOs and community based organisations are doing the same. However, I must be crystal clear: breaking the law will not be tolerated. We are already under extreme pressure to provide food and assistance to people, and criminal acts place even further pressure on us. Beyond this however, these thefts are hurting the poor and the hungry, who rely on those food parcels for their survival."

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