The Western Cape’s Head of the Health Department, Dr Keith Cloete, indicated during a weekly digital press conference on COVID-19 on Thursday, June 17, that the province is now fully in the third wave of COVID-19 infections.
According to Cloete, while most cases are still recorded within the private sector, there is a steady increase in the public health domain. Cloete said 42000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive in the province on Friday, June 18, and the department is geared towards much greater capacity than is currently in use.
The Western Cape reported 9826 active COVID-19 infections, with a total number of 305 548 COVID-19 cases and 283 711 recoveries, as of Thursday, June 17.
1/2 Update on the coronavirus and vaccines ?
As at 1pm on 17 June 2021, the Western Cape had 9826 active COVID-19 infections, with a total number of 305 548 COVID-19 cases to date and 283 711 recoveries.
Statement: https://t.co/jlXONrenHd pic.twitter.com/M9fHnaA2HX
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) June 17, 2021
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially moved South Africa back to an adjusted lockdown level 3 on Tuesday, June 15. This recommendation follows the country entering the third wave of COVID-19 infections.
During his family meeting, Ramaphosa indicted that over the last seven days, an average of 7 500 daily infections was recorded, with hospital admissions almost 60% higher than in the previous two weeks.
Picture: Cape Town etc gallery