Fifty people, who previously tested positive for Covid-19 in Cape Town, have recovered and their period of self-isolation lifted.
According to the premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, the 50 completed 14 days of self-isolation and can now, in accordance with the guidelines set out by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, come out of isolation.
However, they still have to obey the 21-day lockdown laws, like other members of the public, and so can only leave their homes for essentials like medical care, food, cash and to collect grants.
Currently, 13 people are being treated for Covid-19 in hospitals in the province, with three patients in intensive care.
“As at 00h01 on 31 March 2020, the Western Cape had recorded 348 cases of Covid-19 across the province,” said Winde on Tuesday.
He explained that, on Sunday, processing errors occurred in the way the data was allocated to some sub-districts, specifically Swellendam, Bitou and Knysna. It has since been corrected, and an apology extended for the inconvenience or concern it may have triggered.
The numbers in the Cape Town Metro are:
Western – 118
Southern – 104
Northern – 17
Tygerberg – 23
Eastern – 14
Klipfontein – 7
Mitchells Plain – 5
Khayelitsha – 1
Total – 289
Other areas in the Western Cape:
Garden Route: Bitou – 4
Garden Route: Knysna – 6
Garden Route: George – 8
Garden Route: Hessequa – 3
Garden Route: Mossel Bay – 5
Cape Winelands: Stellenbosch – 11
Cape Winelands: Drakenstein – 6
Cape Winelands: Breede Valley – 4
Cape Winelands: Langeberg – 1
Overberg: Overstrand – 5
Overberg: Theewaterskloof – 1
West Coast: Saldanha Bay – 1
West Coast: Swartland – 1
Total – 56
Not allocated by address: 3
Winde appealed to people who are not collecting SA Social Security Agency grants to refrain from shopping over the next few days to minimise crowds and queues, and not put the elderly and disabled recipients at risk unnecessarily.
He reiterated the call to stay inside and limit contact with other people to prevent medical services becoming overwhelmed.
“This will allow us to ensure that those who are sick are able to receive the care they need,” he said.
He also thanked the Covid-19 Bo-Kaap response team that helped trace contacts of a patient in the area.
“This kind of response team can only work if the messaging is responsible, caring and shared on a voluntary basis, and we would like to thank them for this,” said Winde.
He suggested that people who would like to express solidarity for essential services workers do so by hanging a flag or a colourful piece of cloth from their doors and windows. In this way, they could show their support in their neighbourhoods.
