GEORGE NEWS - The number of Covid-19 cases reported in George has been rising steadily since Monday 11 May, when the figure from the Western Cape Health Department stood at 15 cases.
The latest confirmed total is 27 of whom 16 have recovered, leaving 11 active cases. Where the number in the town had been remaining constant on 14 during the first half of the month, with only one or two active cases, it increased almost daily during the past week.
The total number of Covid-19 cases in the Garden Route as of 13:00 on 18 May is 99. This is an increase of 27 cases since Wednesday 13 May.
A George woman with Covid-19 was hospitalised at Mediclinic George on Wednesday night, 13 May. Today, Monday 18 May, hospital manager Kassie Karstens said her condition has improved. He confirmed that no other cases have been admitted.
The newspaper is waiting for information from the Health Department regarding possible hospitalisations at George Hospital. Screening and testing have been upscaled in the Garden Route and Little Karoo over the past few weeks.
Through the door-to-door method, a total of 60 076 people have been screened in the Garden Route and Little Karoo, of whom 336 have been referred for testing, according to the Western Cape Health Department district spokesperson, Nadia Ferreira.
"We also screen all people who visit the George Hospital and test those who have to be tested. Private screening and testing are also ongoing, so this figure is only for the department's door-to-door screening and testing."
Sheldon Wienand, manager of Food Lovers' Market at the Garden Route Mall, today said the rumour that an employee had been tested positive, is not true. "We are up and running. All our Covid health and safety procedures are in place and employees are screened as per the recommendations."
Summary of total cases in Garden Route District as of 18 May midday:
Bitou 9 (3 active)
Knysna 25 (8 active)
George 27 (11 active)
Hessequa 8 (1 active)
Mossel Bay 26 (7 active)
Oudtshoorn 4 (1 active)
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