GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - If the current infection trend continues, the Garden Route could have 10 000 Covid-19 positive cases by 25 July.
This statistic has prompted the new George Mayor, Leon van Wyk, to make a plea for observance of Covid-19 hygiene protocols at all times. "Take care out there," he said.
Van Wyk shared the message on the Garden Route District WhatsApp group of the Government Information and Communication System this morning, Tuesday 26 May.
He said a meeting yesterday of district teams of the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre revealed that the positive cases in the region are now doubling every 10 days.
"Projections for the Garden Route is to peak at 10 000 cases around 25 July. This is reason for concern given that the largest quarantine facility is at PetroSA with 690 beds."
George Herald's inquiry regarding the readiness of field hospitals and quarantine facilities in the Garden Route and Little Karoo was redirected from the Garden Route District Municipality and Western Cape Health Department to the provincial Department of Transport and Public Works. Spokesperson Jandré Bakker promised a response as soon as possible from the team that is managing these facilities.
It was previously confirmed by Gerhard Otto, disaster management chief, that in addition to the Petro SA quarantine facility, the Calitzdorp Spa and De Hoek camping site have also been offered to the health department for use as quarantine facilities, and could be activated when the Petro SA site becomes inadequate.
Heatherlands High School was identified as a possible field hospital site. It is unsure whether these sites have been readied for the expected spike in Covid-19 cases. More information will follow as it becomes available.
It has been reported that 67 children under the age of 19 have been admitted to Western Cape hospitals for the treatment of Covid-19.
George Herald is awaiting statistics from the Western Cape Health Department regarding the number of children in hospitals in the Garden Route.
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