As Friday July 17, the Western Cape has 13 756 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 83 480 confirmed cases and 67 181 recoveries.
The province also recorded an additional 50 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 2543.
The breakdown is as follows:
Sub-districts:
Masks for Madiba:
“I would like to thank all of those who have come on board to donate masks and funds in our Masks for Madiba drive ahead of Mandela Day tomorrow. We have received many generous donations, that will help us get masks to thousands more people in the province- helping to keep them and their loved ones safe.=,” Premier Alan Winde said in a statement.
It’s not too late to donate – anyone wishing to pledge can still do so. To pledge, fill out the pledge form by clicking here.
Department of Social Development assistance to ECD’s:
The Department of Social Development in the province has re-prioritised R10.2 million in funding to assist Early Childhood Development centres to re-open safely.
The funds will be used to procure PPE, prepare sites for re-opening and to prevent and manage the spread of COVID-19 at registered and conditionally registered ECD services.
The funding will be issued to currently funded social service organisations, who will prioritise the need for support packages based on a defined set of eligibility criteria.
Diabetes and COVID-19:
Diabetics are particularly vulnerable to severe illness once they become symptomatic and require earlier care and intervention for a better health outcome. Research in the province has shown that many diabetics are only tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at the hospital with severe symptoms such as shortness of breath.
A message to all diabetics is that if you have any symptoms, get tested as soon as possible. This allows heath care workers to identify your risk and ensure that you become part of our risk stratified approach to treating diabetics with COVID-19.
The action plan focuses on low, medium and high risk to decrease the morbidity and mortality amongst people with diabetes.
Low risk: Those whose diabetes are well controlled with no additional comorbidities. They will receive daily calls from the Department’s Contact Centre to check their symptoms. Should they struggle to control their glucose level and their condition deteriorates, they will be offered admission to a hospital where their condition can be treated and controlled.
Medium: Persons whose diabetes are well or moderately controlled with additional comorbidities. They will receive daily calls from “PODS” to check their symptoms and their blood glucose level and, if deemed medically necessary, will be offered admission to the Hospital of Hope where their condition can be treated and controlled.
High: Persons with poorly controlled diabetes, with additional comorbidities and over the age of 70 years old. They will be contacted and offered admission to a tertiary hospital to receive the necessary specialised medical care.
More data is available by clicking here.
Image: Pixabay
