The Western Cape’s hospitals are under increasing pressure as the number of COVID-19 patients continue to surge in the province. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds are under the most strain currently.

As reported by eNCA, the province’s health department warned that there may be a delay in the admission of patients and other essential services if numbers continue to increase at this rate. On Friday [December 19], there were more than 2000 COVID-19 admissions in total in the Western Cape.

A total of 200 of the latest admissions are in ICU beds, and many hospitals in the province are fast approaching full capacity.

The province is also looking into adding more beds to help ease the strain at hospitals.

“Now’s the time to be extra cautious. Be on the lookout for events or situations that increase your chances of contracting COVID-19. Avoid the 3Cs: close contact settings, crowded or confined spaces,” Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said via Facebook.

You can contact the Coronavirus hotline on 0800 029 999 from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Picture: Pixabay

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Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.