Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

3 May 2020

As of 1pm on 3 May, the Western Cape has recorded 3113 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 115

The Western Cape has recorded an additional six COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 58. We send our condolences to those who have lost their loved ones.

Most successful day of testing:

Yesterday, the province recorded a record number of tests- with 4059 completed in a 24-hour period. Focused testing and screening, conducted at hotspots, or in pockets of infection are key in our fight to flatten the curve and to stop the spread. This cannot however be achieved through testing alone, and requires the buy in and help of everyone in society.

It is still necessary for people to stay home in line with the regulation four guidelines, to wash their hands and to practice social distancing.

Level four lockdown:

Tomorrow, many more residents will be returning to work for the first time since the start of the lockdown. We urge those returning to work and businesses that will be re-opening to make hygiene and safety their number one priority. The use of cloth masks is mandatory and social distancing must be observed. The Western Cape Departments of Health, Economic Opportunities and Agriculture are all currently working on developing protocols for various sectors, which will be communicated with them soon.

Businesses looking for support and advice on the level four lockdown regulations and what they mean for them, can email [email protected].

Statement issued by Alan Winde, Western Cape Premier, 3 May 2020

Previous:

Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

2 May 2020

As of 1pm on 2 May, the Western Cape has recorded 2783 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 98

Further statistical data, including recoveries by sub-district, can be accessed on the data dashboard available at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

The Western Cape has recorded an additional four COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 52. We send our condolences to those who have lost their loved ones.

Testing and screening:

The Western Cape has now conducted nearly 40 000 tests, with 15 660 of these over the past week as we continue to ramp up our testing efforts to actively seek out cases and isolate or quarantine their contacts.

The province has also now rigorously screened over 250 000 people in the past month- with community screening and testing set to continue.

The Western Cape Government has adopted a much more rigorous approach toward actively locating cases, tracking and tracing contacts and conducting targeted screening and testing in identified clusters. Epidemiological evidence tells us where the cluster transmissions are taking place, and this is where we relentlessly train our focus with both screening and testing.

This active case finding approach strategy means the Western Cape has a higher success rate in locating and fighting the ‘bushfires’.

Proposal to commemorate lives lost and honour healthcare workers:

Earlier this week, I wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa with a request to honor and commemorate the lives lost in our country as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. For those who lose loved ones during this time, the ability to bid a proper farewell is limited. We would also like to encourage a further expression of support for our health service professionals working on the front line.

We have therefore requested that President Ramaphosa allow for all flags at national key points be flown at half-mast every Wednesday from sunrise to sunset. Once approved, each province could encourage municipalities to follow suit.

This is a simple way to express our solidarity with those who have lost loved ones, and those who are working hard on the frontlines, in line with our ethos as a caring government.

I hope that the President will view our proposal favorably.

Level four lockdown:

The country has been in level four lockdown since yesterday, and we thank those who are complying with the new regulations. We have however seen increased numbers of people congregating at places like shopping malls and in public areas for exercise. It is important to remember that the lockdown remains in place for a reason- we need to flatten the curve and ensure we stop the spread. It is important that residents only leave their homes when they need to- visits to malls and shops should be limited and social distancing must always be a priority. 

Cloth masks are compulsory when leaving home- whether you are going for a run, going to the shop or going to collect a social grant.

We recommend only sending the healthiest family member to the shops to reduce the numbers of people out in public, and to minimize risk for the vulnerable.

Shopping should be done efficiently as possible, and customers should avoid picking up and putting down items on the shelves.

In the coming days, social grant payments will once again be made and we request that where possible, those residents who are not receiving grants, avoid shops and shopping centres during this time. This will help to reduce numbers out in public so that we do not put our elderly and vulnerable at risk while they are collecting grants.

The golden rules of hygiene always apply. These include handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, wearing a clean cloth mask, avoiding touching the face and removing masks by the straps and cleaning hands before and after this is done. Cough and sneeze into your arm or into a tissue and if you are sick, stay at home and call the hotline on 021 928 4102 for advice on what to do next.

In a bid to reduce congestion during the exercise hours, we will be writing to the national government to request an additional afternoon exercise session. This will also help to relieve congestion caused by the fact that the sun currently only rises after 7am in the Western Cape and will allow those who are at work in the mornings, to still exercise later in the day.

Issued by Office of Western Cape Premier, 2 May 2020

Previous:

Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

1 May 2020

As of 1pm on 1 May, the Western Cape has recorded 2536 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection. 

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 112

Data is available on the Western Cape Government's dashboard which can be accessed at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus.

The Western Cape has recorded another two deaths, bringing the provincial total to 48. We send our condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased at this difficult time.

Level 4 lockdown:

Today, to mark Workers' Day, I went to visit a clothing retail store, which, under the new regulations is allowed to sell winter clothes and blankets. We were able to see the measures in place to protect staff, which included the wearing of masks, and physical distancing protocols in place. The store also had strict restrictions in place on how many people could enter at one time. As part of the new normal, this is how businesses will need to operate in order to ensure that opening our economy does not open us up to further risk of infection.

Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier said: “We firmly believe that if done responsibly, the economy in the Western Cape can open up while preventing the spread of COVID-19. We are committed to supporting business in the Western Cape through this crisis. That is why we are finalizing a set of guidelines for business, informed by the Department of Health. We are also actively working to unpack the regulations so that we can advise businesses if they are able to operate under level 4. And finally, we will be providing guidance to businesses on what to do if a staff member displays symptoms or tests positive.”

Exercise hours leading to increased congestion:

Today was the first day of level four lockdown in South Africa. Many residents in the Western Cape, just like the rest of the country, took up the opportunity to exercise in line with these new regulations promulgated by the National Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. These regulations allow residents to exercise within a 5km radius of their homes between 6 am and 9 am.

In many of the country’s high density cities, abiding by these regulations during a very set-time has resulted in high levels of congregation in public spaces.

This is the unfortunate result of regulations which I am afraid were not thought through and regrettably lack common sense.

The medical and scientific reason for the lockdown has been to limit gathering, so as to slow the spread of Covid-19. By forcing residents to only exercise during a very set-time period, we are forcing congregation.

Furthermore, little consideration was given to the fact that sunrise is later in the Western Cape as we approach winter, therefore providing an even smaller window of time for a large number of people to exercise in line with the new regulations.

We need a common-sense approach in our response to Covid-19. The Western Cape Government will therefore petition the National Minister to provide for additional times for exercise during daylight hours, so that we can drastically reduce volumes of people exercising at any one point.

We have seen from the 22 000 submissions to the national government on the issue of exercise, and the enthusiastic response by people around the country, that this opportunity is valued and appreciated.

Cardiovascular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, which also has a positive impact on lung health. We should encourage healthy lifestyle choices and allow residents of the Western Cape to take responsibility for themselves by practicing social distancing and wearing their masks while exercising.

My request to all our residents is to please do everything possible to avoid any gathering whatsoever. You must keep your distance from others. You must exercise alone. You must wear a cloth mask, and be sure to follow the golden rules of hygiene at all times. If you are not feeling well, you must not leave your home at all. This is important. Please first call the Provincial Hotline on 021 928 4102 for advice on what you should do next.

Workers' Day Message:

Today, we send our appreciation to all of those workers who have been on the frontline during this pandemic.

This pandemic has had a major impact on the global workforce and we must also remember the economic hardship and uncertainty that many workers face at this time.

A number of workers will have started work again today, or will do so in the coming days. With more people moving around, there is increased risk and we remind everyone that cloth masks are compulsory and that good hygiene, and keeping physical distance is critical in helping to stop the spread.

Statement issued by Alan Winde, Western Cape Premier, 1 May 2020