The Western Cape has 7439 active cases of COVID-19 as of 1pm on May 25 with a total of 14 978 confirmed cases and 7221 recoveries.
Total confirmed COVID-19 cases: 14978
Total recoveries: 7221
Total deaths: 318
Total active cases (currently infected patients): 7439
Total number of tests: 124079
Hospitalisations: 554 of which 139 are in ICU or high care
Sub-districts Cape Town Metro:
Western: 1581 cases; 833 recoveries
Southern: 1771 cases; 615 recoveries
Northern: 934 cases; 479 recoveries
Tygerberg: 2311 cases; 1293 recoveries
Eastern: 1314 cases; 725 recoveries
Klipfontein: 1858 cases; 822 recoveries
Mitchells Plain: 1478 cases; 727 recoveries
Khayelitsha: 1940 cases;1147 recoveries
Total: 13187 cases; 6641 recoveries
Sub-districts:
Garden Route Bitou: 14 cases; 6 recoveries
Garden Route Knysna: 45 cases; 17 recoveries
Garden Route George: 55 cases; 20 recoveries
Garden Route Hessequa: 12 cases; 9 recoveries
Garden Route Kannaland: 1 case; 1 recovery
Garden Route Mossel Bay: 31 cases; 20 recoveries
Garden Route Oudtshoorn: 10 cases; 3 recoveries
Cape Winelands Stellenbosch: 111 cases; 45 recoveries
Cape Winelands Drakenstein: 312 cases; 93 recoveries
Cape Winelands Breede Valley: 124 cases; 39 recoveries
Cape Winelands Langeberg: 12 cases; 3 recoveries
Cape Winelands Witzenberg: 224 cases; 185 recoveries
Overberg Overstrand: 33 cases; 20 recoveries
Overberg Cape Agulhas: 5 cases; 2 recoveries
Overberg Swellendam: 10 cases; 7 recoveries
Overberg Theewaterskloof: 40 cases; 9 recoveries
West Coast Bergrivier: 20 cases; 8 recoveries
West Coast Cederberg: 3 cases; 0 recoveries
West Coast Matzikama: 2 cases; 0 recoveries
West Coast Saldanha Bay Municipality: 40 cases; 5 recoveries
West Coast Swartland: 47 cases; 19 recoveries
Central Karoo Beaufort West: 2 cases; 0 recoveries
Unallocated: 638 (69 recovered)
Additional data can be found on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus.
The Western Cape has recorded an additional 18 COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 318.
Testing backlogs:
A total of 124 079 tests have been completed in the Western Cape, representing a 400% increase in the number of tests conducted in the province since April 25. This increase in testing in the Western Cape and in other provinces has resulted in a considerable backlog in the processing of these tests and in the release of their results by the National Health Laboratory Services.
The NHLS is a national entity, and the Western Cape has previously written to both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize regarding the backlogs which are creating considerable delays in people receiving their test results back. During his recent visit to the Western Cape, Minister Mkhize indicated that the delays were due to shortages of reagents and test kits which are being experienced world-wide.
The backlog in the Western Cape has now grown to approximately 18 000 tests.
In the absence of a rapid-test solution, the decision is to prioritise healthcare workers, those in hospital and those at high risk including the elderly and those with underlying conditions in order to ensure the most efficient way of managing the curve of the disease in this phase of community transmission.
“We once again call on both the President and Minister Mkhize to move as quickly as possible to ensure that the NHLS is provided with the resources it so urgently requires and that testing across the country can continue unhindered,” Premier Winde said.
Alert Level 3:
Today marks one week until the entire country will move to Alert Level 3. This will be done in conjunction with the province’s targeted hotspot plan.
“The Western Cape Government is working around the clock to make sure that all our healthcare responses are in place, and that our hotspot plan is being efficiently and effectively executed. But we cannot fight this Covid-19 pandemic alone. We need everyone to help us by taking responsibility for themselves, and for their loved ones, so that we can protect the vulnerable from infection,” he added.
Donations for healthcare workers:
Today, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo and Premier Alan Winde received a donation of over 2700 pairs of shoes and warm tops from Adidas, which will be distributed to healthcare workers in Cape Town, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal.
Healthcare workers are at the frontline of our response to COVID-19 and comfortable shoes are important as they spend long hours on their feet.
Picture: Unsplash