The Western Cape Government is starting to see the plateauing of new cases in the Western Cape, with the proportion of tests coming back positive starting to decline. According to Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, this points to a slowing down of the fourth wave in the province, as the peak approaches.
This trend will be closely monitored, given the number of public holidays over this period. Overall, the number of new COVID-19 cases remains high at 4 000 new cases per day on average, with 217 new admissions on average per day.
Those in high care and ICU remain relatively low. The number of new deaths is low at 2 deaths on average a day. There has been a 48% decline in deaths over the last week.
“In terms of subdistricts, there is a slowing down of case increases in the Cape Metro, with some subdistricts like Western, Khayelitsha and Klipfontein showing a decrease in cases. Our rural districts are still seeing an increase in cases, although the increase has slowed compared to previous weeks.
“While the case numbers and test positivity rate during the fourth wave have exceeded previous waves, admissions are below the peak of both the second and the third wave and deaths remain extremely low, in line with previous interwave periods. There is therefore a widening gap between these metrics, pointing to less severe disease during the fourth wave.
“Overall, according to our data, the risk of admission is 30% lower in the fourth wave when compared to the third wave, and the risk of admission for severe disease is 60% less during the fourth wave than during the third wave. We believe that vaccination, as well as immunity from undiagnosed prior infection has played an important role in this,” Winde said.
The Metro hospitals have an average Bed Occupancy Rate of 85%; George drainage area hospitals at 61%; Paarl drainage area hospitals at 59% and Worcester drainage area hospitals at 65%. Critical care Bed Occupancy Rate for designated COVID-19 beds for the province stands at 42%.
Here are the vaccination statistics:
So far, 66,7% of residents over the age of 60 years old are fully vaccinated, with 5% partially vaccinated. 58% of residents between 50 and 59 years old are fully vaccinated, with 5% partially vaccinated.
Overall, 62,41% of all residents over the age of 50 years old are fully vaccinated in the Western Cape, with 4,78% partially vaccinated. 39,89% of all residents between 18 and 49 years old are fully vaccinated in the Western Cape, with 7,34% partially vaccinated.
Winde thanked the frontline workers for their unwavering commitment to saving lives. “Our doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, police officers, law enforcement and traffic officers, departmental officials, NGOs, and small business owners and employees, amongst many others in the private sector, deserve the highest praise this year for helping to save lives and jobs in the Western Cape. Thank you,” he said.
He reiterated to the people of the Western Cape that the government in the province will do everything they can to make 2022 a better year for all.
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Picture: Supplied