Here are the latest number of #Coronavirus cases per town in the Overberg. (Please respect the privacy and confidentiality of any active or past #COVID19 patients.)

Overstrand (Cases, Recovered, Active)

Fisherhaven 24 | 22 | 2

Gansbaai 113 | 94 | 17 (and 2 deaths)

De Kelders 25 | 20 | 3 (and 2 deaths)

Blompark 102 | 87 | 14 (and 1 death)

Masakhane 212 | 192 | 17 (and 3 deaths)

Pearly Beach 27 | 20 | 6 (and 1 death)

Uilkraalsmond 9 | 5 | 3 (and 1 death)

Franskraal 27 | 20 | 7

Kleinbaai 6 | 4 | 1 (and 1 death)

Baardskeerdersbos 2 | 2 | 0

Hawston 220 | 166 | 48 (and 6 deaths)

Hermanus 410 | 316 | 87 (and 7 deaths)

Kleinmond 444 | 294 | 144 (and 6 deaths)

Mt Pleasant 230 | 177 | 47 (and 6 deaths)

Onrus 121 | 84 | 32 (and 5 deaths)

Sandbaai 116 | 88 | 28

Stanford 211 | 166 | 39 (and 6 deaths)

Vermont 54 | 41 | 13

Zwelihle 815 | 690 | 115 (and 10 deaths)

TOTAL 3168 | 2488 | 623 (and 57 deaths)

TWK (Cases, Recovered, Active)

Botrivier 158 | 120 | 34 (and 4 deaths)

Caledon 945 | 696 | 221 (and 28 deaths)

Elgin 69 | 56 | 9 (and 4 deaths)

Genadendal 113 | 78 | 33 (and 2 deaths)

Grabouw 1270 | 971 | 259 (and 40 deaths)

Greyton 52 | 31 | 20 (and 1 death)

Riviersonderend 178 | 153 | 19 (and 6 deaths)

Villiersdorp 518 | 432 | 70 (and 16 deaths)

Voorstekraal 15 | 10 | 4 (and 1 death)

TOTAL 3318 | 2547 | 669 (and 102 deaths)

Swellendam (Cases, Recovered, Active)

Barrydale 59 | 45 | 13 (and 1 death)

Buffeljagsrivier 70 | 41 | 28 (and 1 death)

Suurbraak 60 | 33 | 25 (and 2 deaths)

Swellendam 728 | 466 | 253 (and 9 deaths)

TOTAL 917 | 585 | 319 (and 13 deaths)

Cape Agulhas (Cases, Recovered, Active)

Bredasdorp 699 | 513 | 166 (and 20 deaths)

Elim 73 | 51 | 17 (and 5 deaths)

Napier 119 | 96 | 19 (and 4 deaths)

Struisbaai 115 | 83 | 28 (and 4 deaths)

Waenhuiskrans 64 | 49 | 12 (and 3 death)

TOTAL 1070 | 792 | 242 (and 36 deaths)

The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) has opened its new motorised pont at Malgas. This allows public traffic to cross the Breede River at this point avoiding a time-consuming and expensive 90 km detour by road to reach the other side of the river.

Operating hours are 06:00 to 18:00 every day. However, operators may, at their own discretion and without notice, close the pont at any time for safety reasons (as was the case with the old pont). When weather, water and vessel conditions are favourable, and when the pont is not required for transporting DTPW vehicles, members of the public may have their motorised vehicles transported across the river free of charge. No pedestrians or non-motorised vehicles will be transported across the river unless there is also a motorised vehicle on the pont.

A pont is a flat-bottomed ferry. It essentially takes the place of a bridge in a location where the expense of constructing a bridge is not warranted. The old pont, which was connected to a cable and drawn by hand across the river, was put in place a century ago. The old vessel had to be replaced because it had become a hazard to public safety, and because it was no longer fit for purpose. The cable across the river, which is also a hazard to public safety, is not higher from the water surface but will be removed in due course.

The pont slipway is DTPW property as it forms part of the public road crossing the river. However, as a courtesy to the public, boat operators wishing to launch a boat from the road may do so, provided the pont is not currently using the slipway. Boat operators are not permitted to ask the pont operator to move the pont to make way for their boats.

Media enquiries
Jandre Bakker
Head of Communication
Department of Transport and Public Works
Email: Jandre.Bakker@westerncape.gov.za

Hospitals in the Western Cape are currently under severe pressure. This is as a result of the sharp increase in patients requiring to be admitted with severe COVID-19 as well as the increase in non-COVID-19 trauma cases. 

Our healthcare workers are also under severe pressure. They are spending their Festive Season away from their loved ones to help your loved ones. Please help us to support them by only going to the hospital’s emergency centre for life-saving and urgent medical care. 

For non-emergencies, please go to your nearest clinic. 

Please note that our clinics can only test people for COVID-19 who meet the testing criteria. We cannot test people who need a negative COVID-19 certificate for travel purposes.  

The following people will be tested for COVID-19 in the Overberg:

• All people with coronavirus symptoms  
• People with coronavirus symptoms admitted to hospital 
• People with coronavirus symptoms AND who reside in large group confined spaces (old age, homes, care homes, hostels, prisons) 
• Pre-operative testing of coronavirus asymptomatic patients awaiting surgery (should be tested 3 days or less before their operation). 
• Natural deaths occurring at home who had coronavirus symptoms. 
• All Health Care Workers with coronavirus symptoms 
• Health Care Workers who are in quarantine and asymptomatic at day 7 (to allow early return to work). 
• Those who previously tested PCR positive, but have developed new coronavirus symptoms, should only be tested 90 days after their first PCR test

Do your part: wear a mask and avoid crowds.

Here are the latest number of #Coronavirus cases per town in the Overberg. (Please respect the privacy and confidentiality of any active or past #COVID19 patients.)

Overstrand (Cases, Recovered, Active)

Fisherhaven 22 | 21 | 1

Gansbaai 96 | 83 | 11 (and 2 deaths)

De Kelders 23 | 18 | 4 (and 1 death)

Blompark 89 | 85 | 3 (and 1 death)

Masakhane 194 | 176 | 15 (and 3 deaths)

Pearly Beach 21 | 16 | 4 (and 1 death)

Uilkraalsmond 6 | 4 | 1 (and 1 death)

Franskraal 20 | 17 | 3

Kleinbaai 6 | 3 | 2 (and 1 death)

Baardskeerdersbos 2 | 2 | 0

Hawston 172 | 142 | 26 (and 4 deaths)

Hermanus 333 | 247 | 80 (and 6 deaths)

Kleinmond 293 | 195 | 94 (and 4 deaths)

Mt Pleasant 183 | 163 | 16 (and 4 deaths)

Onrus 91 | 73 | 13 (and 5 deaths)

Sandbaai 94 | 64 | 30

Stanford 171 | 154 | 13 (and 4 deaths)

Vermont 40 | 24 | 16

Zwelihle 704 | 641 | 56 (and 7 deaths)

TOTAL 2560 | 2128 | 388 (and 44 deaths)

TWK (Cases, Recovered, Active)

Botrivier 124 | 109 | 12 (and 3 deaths)

Caledon 701 | 562 | 114 (and 25 deaths)

Elgin 61 | 48 | 10 (and 3 deaths)

Genadendal 80 | 67 | 11 (and 2 death)

Grabouw 1006 | 841 | 132 (and 33 deaths)

Greyton 32 | 24 | 7 (and 1 death)

Riviersonderend 153 | 130 | 20 (and 3 deaths)

Villiersdorp 443 | 359 | 69 (and 15 deaths)

Voorstekraal 11 | 9 | 1 (and 1 death)

TOTAL 2611 | 2149 | 376 (and 86 deaths)

Swellendam (Cases, Recovered, Active)

Barrydale 46 | 40 | 5 (and 1 death)

Buffeljagsrivier 37 | 31 | 5 (and 1 death)

Suurbraak 33 | 24 | 7 (and 2 deaths)

Swellendam 474 | 389 | 77 (and 8 deaths)

TOTAL 590 | 484 | 94 (and 12 deaths)

Cape Agulhas (Cases, Recovered, Active)

Bredasdorp 542 | 403 | 125 (and 14 deaths)

Elim 56 | 40 | 14 (and 2 death)

Napier 100 | 78 | 18 (and 4 deaths)

Struisbaai 82 | 68 | 13 (and 1 death)

Waenhuiskrans 48 | 37 | 10 (and 1 death)

TOTAL 828 | 626 | 180 (and 22 deaths)

Have your say and report illegal liquor traders affecting your community

The public can complain about a person or a business selling liquor. The Western Cape Liquor Authority will investigate and act if enough evidence of wrongdoing is available. Serious offences will be referred to the Liquor Licensing Tribunal which may withdraw the licence, suspend the licence, make changes to the conditions of the licence or issue a fine. Below is more information on complaints against liquor licence holders.

WHAT CAN YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT?

• Outlets selling liquor to children (anyone under the age of 18 years).

• An outlet causing noise and a public disturbance.

• An outlet staying open later than the permitted trading hours (Trading hours must be clearly displayed at the premises).

• Outlets selling liquor to persons that are suspected of being drunk already.

• Outlets allowing the use and selling of drugs on the premises.

• An outlet holding anything as security (e.g. identity document, SASSA card, jewellery, etc.) for the payment of a debt relating to the sale of liquor licensed outlet selling to an unlicensed outlet.

• Any other complaint you think needs the attention of the Western Cape Liquor Authority.

HOW DO YOU COMPLAIN?

You can complain to the Western Cape Liquor Authority by:

• Calling 021 204 9805

• Email: Liquor.Enquiries@wcla.gov.za

• Completing the online complaints form on WCLA website – www.wcla.gov.za

• You may also complain to the South African Police Service and municipality (law enforcement) in your area.

DID YOU KNOW?

• To legally sell or produce liquor, you need to have a liquor licence that is granted by the WCLA. This licence must be renewed every year.

• A liquor licence is a document that is issued to a person permitting them to sell liquor to the public or to produce alcohol.

• You can complain when a liquor licence holder breaks the law, or any condition attached to the licence.

• All licence holders must display the licence conditions at the licensed premises for the public to view.

• You can take photos, videos, or other evidence to support your complaint.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Call: 021 204 9805 • Email: Liquor.Enquiries@wcla.gov.za • Visit our website: www.wcla.gov.za

Media Release: 21 December 2020

Ongoing visitor restrictions at hospitals
We know that you want to visit your loved ones in hospital, but to limit any potential risk of possible transmission of COVID-19, we must continue to restrict in-hospital visitations. This is in line with the principles of social distancing to limit interaction and in doing so slowing and stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Hospital visits:
No visitors to public health facilities: health facilities in the Western Cape are still subject to strict adherence to health protocols. If you have any questions about visitation restrictions, please call the hospital in question to enquire. We understand that it is difficult not being able to visit your loved ones but ask for your understanding and cooperation – together we can limit the spread of COVID-19.

No person will be allowed inside Western Cape Government Health facilities without wearing a cloth mask covering their nose and mouth.

When accessing any of our facilities, you can expect to be asked a number of questions before entry will be permitted. This is to ensure that no visitor matching the case definition of COVID-19 or displaying flu-like symptoms enters the facility for visitation. Please answer truthfully and help us to keep our staff and other patients safe.

Amended services at hospitals
With the increase in hospitalisations due to the second wave of COVID-19, Western Cape Government Hospitals must change how we provide healthcare services to ensure we have capacity to take care of patients who need immediate care. Changes in the current service delivery offering include:

• Visitation is restricted
• Non-urgent outpatient appointments will be postponed and patients given alternative dates
• Non-urgent elective surgery will be postponed and patients provided with a later date
• Patients who are in hospital but are stable will be discharged for further management at home or at a step-down facility
• Outreaches from District and Regional hospitals will be suspended
• Patients are urged to only access the Emergency Centre for emergencies. Non-emergencies to access healthcare services at nearest clinic.

Emergency services that will continue:

• Emergency surgery
• Obstetric surgery
• High risk obstetric clinic
• Fracture clinic
• Limited eyecare and eye surgery
• Allied health for emergency cases

Amended services at clinics

• Medication delivery to stable chronic patients will continue, either to the home or the small community groups that have been set up already
• Medication will be given for longer periods where possible
• Outreaches will be postponed
• Non-urgent appointments will be postponed and given an alternative date
• Essential services will continue, such as TB and HIV screening and treatment, chronic care, family planning, immunisations, and antenatal and postnatal care
• Dental services limited to emergencies only
• Eyecare services limited to emergencies only
• MOU’s (midwife obstetric units) will continue to operate.

Patients are encouraged to make an appointment before visiting a healthcare facility, by calling their local clinic. 

Coronavirus spreads where people gather, including at public health facilities. Only visit the clinic or hospital emergency centre when you really have to. Always wear a clean cloth mask over your mouth and nose and keep a distance of 1.5 m from other people.

Stay safe

• Always wear a cloth mask covering your nose and mouth when leaving your house
• Protect your air space by keeping a distance of 1.5 m from others
• Socialise outdoors, with a small number of people, for a limited time
• Avoid confined spaces with poor ventilation, crowds, and close contact with others
• Keep doors and windows open for good ventilation when indoors
• Stay home if you feel sick. Arrange a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms, such as headache, body ache, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, and weakness.
• Isolate while waiting for test results. If positive, isolate for ten days.

20 December 2020

Hospitals in the Western Cape are currently under severe pressure. This is as a result of the sharp increase in patients requiring to be admitted with severe COVID-19 as well as the increase in non-COVID-19 trauma cases.

The bed status:
The 231 adult ICU/high care beds across hospitals are currently fluctuating between 80-100% total capacity daily (technically full) which is placing enormous pressure on the capability of all facilities. An additional 136 dedicated adult ICU COVID beds were made available, bringing the combined ICU/high care beds to 367.

As at 18 December there were 2 032 total Covid-19 patients in hospital of which 287 were in ICU/high care. However, the additional capacity made available requires resources to directed away from other services, meaning less capability for a particular health service to be rendered.

In addition, the 4 443 acute beds (excluding Maternity, Paediatric, Neonatal, Psychiatry beds, Red Cross, Mowbray and the TB hospitals) across the province are also taking strain with Metro hospitals operating at 78% and Rural hospitals at 89%.

The various bed totals change daily and is monitored by the management teams at hospitals.

Clinical decision-making during peak of pandemic
The protracted pressure on scarce health resources may result in possible delayed admission to hospital or the possibility that certain service packages cannot be rendered. To assist the teams the Department has initiated ethics committees to support the clinical decision making. Both clinical decision making and access to certain care packages will, by necessity, be different to those experienced in normal day-to-day services – for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.

These are unprecedented times globally and require us to take unprecedented actions to support the most vulnerable patients. Senior management fully supports clinicians in this very difficult time as their decisions are guided by equity, fairness, dignity, and engagement. To further support our teams and the demand for services, an additional 829 dedicated COVID beds have been made available.

Providing additional intermediate capacity to lessen pressure on acute hospitals
The existing 487 intermediate care beds, which are being provided by Brackengate, Sonstraal and Freesia ward (Lentegeur) are also seeing an increase in admissions. Brackengate is nearing capacity (total of 264 admissions on 17 December).

To support these facilities, were will be creating an additional 263 beds within Lentegeur and Tygerberg Hospital. We have already started exploring/implementing certain plans to further expand our capacity to deal with the increased demand for hospitalisation. Each option is guided by the availability of suitable infrastructure and staff resources.

Staffing resources:
As demands are placed on our staffing resources, we have put the following measures in place to ensure that our staffing needs can be met:
1. Additional agency staff
2. Volunteers and bursary holders
3. Extra doctors
4. Redeployment of staff internal staff

Staff safety is given the highest priority during this high-pressure period. No effort is spared to ensure safety protocols are adhered to. We have also staggered leave arrangements to try to ensure that staff can have some rest and time with their families.

While we expand our bed capacity, we require the support of every citizen in the province to do their part by being safe.
• Always wear a mask when going out
• Avoid crowded places, confined spaces with poor ventilation and close contact
• Stay home if sick and arrange a test – isolate while you wait for your results
• Be careful about sharing your “air space” by avoiding crowds where you cannot keep 1.5m distance
• Having people over? Limit the size of your get-together (more people = more risk) and Keep them short (longer = more risk)