2 December 2020
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www.thevillagenews.co.za
Increase in Covid numbers a concern Writer De Waal Steyn
T
he Western Cape Government is deeply concerned about the growing number of Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations in the province, which can now be considered as an established resurgence,” according to Western Cape Premier Alan Winde. In the Overberg, the number of active cases increased from 190 on Friday 27 November to 234 on Monday 30 November, and from 41 to 64 in the Overstrand. Over the same period, the number of hospitalisations in the province increased from 1 020 to 1 104. Winde said on Monday that no decision had been taken yet on localised restrictions as they were still seeking legal advice on what was possible, given that disaster restrictions are imposed by national government, and not by provinces. “I must reiterate that the main priority right now is to prevent a lockdown that would devastate our economy. The best and quickest way to do this is through individuals, businesses and civil society playing their part by changing their behaviour,” he said. A resurgence is when the number of active cases increases, week-on-week, by more than 20%. Over the last week alone, the province has witnessed a 52.1% jump in new cases, with an established pattern over time. There is also now established community transmission of the virus again in the province, which means that it is
spreading within communities at a faster rate. This growth is primarily driven by two districts in the Western Cape: the Garden Route and the Cape Metro. “We have issued a hotspot alert for the Garden Route, following an alarming growth of cases in the area. This surge has continued to gain momentum and there are now more active cases in George and Knysna sub-districts than at any point in the pandemic to date. The City of Cape Town is following a similar trajectory to this region and looks to be about 10 – 14 days behind. We are therefore also issuing a hotspot alert for the Metro,” Winde said. He said it was important to highlight that the growth in cases in the city was being recorded in every sub-district and was not being driven by any one area. This was verified by waste-water treatment testing. “While the growth in cases province-wide has mainly been driven by these two districts, we are also worried about the Cape Winelands, which is starting to record a concerning number of new cases. The Overberg District, Central Karoo District and West Coast District are being closely monitored given their proximity to these hotspots.” According to the Western Cape Government, the resurgence in the province is also reflected in the proportion of positive tests, which has now grown to 16%. This is comparable to the test positivity rate experienced in the Western Cape in early May 2020. “My biggest concern is for our health platform,
which is under growing pressure. We need to ensure that every person gets healthcare when they need it. Hospitalisations reached a low of under 500 in September, and they have now reached 1 104 as of Sunday. Since the start of November, Covid-19 hospitalisations across the province have increased by 63%, and critical care admissions by 75%. This is particularly concerning as admission to a critical care unit is an indication of severe illness that might lead to death. This means our hospitals are already fuller than they were earlier this year, during the first wave of hospitalisations. “We need every person in the Western Cape to help prevent a lockdown and to ensure that there are enough empty beds in our hospitals for those who need them. We must be under no illusion as to how serious the situation is, and how quickly it can deteriorate further,” Winde said. He emphasised that the province could not afford another lockdown, as is being witnessed in many European countries right now. “Our economy simply cannot afford it. A lockdown would kill jobs and cause our humanitarian disaster to worsen. This will also cost lives in the future. There is therefore only one option available to us all. We have to bring the situation under control through our own actions. We have to do everything possible to ensure that we do not get infected by Covid-19 and that we do not spread the disease.
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The virus is not gone but will be with us over the holidays and beyond. Therefore, we need to remain safe and protect each other by
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adhering to the following: Wearing a mask properly is of life-saving importance. You must wear your mask at all times when outside of your home. There can be no exceptions. You must avoid crowded and confined spaces at all costs. This is where super-spreader events take place. You must urgently reconsider hosting all non-essential gatherings of people this year, especially indoor gatherings with poor ventilation. You must ensure there is good ventilation at all times whenever you’re in public. The virus droplets spread by air in confined spaces, and so fresher is better. You must wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use sanitiser. If you feel sick, you should not leave your home unless it is to get healthcare treatment. You must first call our hotline on 080 928 4102 for guidance on the next steps. You should also not visit someone who is sick, and find other ways to provide support, like delivering a meal to a neighbour’s doorstep. Every single resident should assume that Covid-19 is everywhere they go and take all the necessary precautions at every point along their journey.
“We all have a critical role to play over the next few weeks in order to keep our economy open and to ensure that there is a hospital bed for ourselves or our loved ones, should we need it. Let’s show the world again that we are capable of flattening the curve in the Western Cape,” Winde said.
Blue Flag glory for Overstrand S
outh Africa has been awarded 77 Blue Flag status sites for 2020/21, made up of 48 beaches, 6 marinas, 4 boats as well as 19 pilot status sites – all recognised for their excellence in the areas of cleanliness, safety, environmental standards and amenities. This was revealed at the National Blue Flag Launch held in Durban on 27 November. Most Blue Flag sites listed are in the Western Cape, with Overstrand reclaiming all four Blue Flag beaches. The accreditation is awarded for one season at a time and municipalities must apply annually to renew the status of their beaches. If conditions at the beach deteriorate, it can be withdrawn. Overstrand Municipality was applauded for the role they play in ensuring the retention of the status.
In addition, Grotto beach in Hermanus celebrates a remarkable 20 consecutive years on the program. What makes this accolade even more noteworthy, is that Grotto and Humewood in
Port Elizabeth are the only two beaches that hold the record for being awarded the longest uninterrupted Blue Flag association in the country. Hawston and Kleinmond beaches have enjoyed Blue Flag status for 15 consecutive years, while this summer will be the second Blue Flag season for Castle beach in Pearly Beach. Onrus beach was awarded pilot Blue Flag Status for the 2020/21 summer season, which means Onrus will be considered for full Blue Flag status if certain criteria are met within a specified period of time. (Pilot sites are recognised for working towards meeting the minimum requirements for full Blue Flag status). Because of the costs involved, the majority of the Blue Flag beaches in South Africa are operated as Blue Flag beaches during the December/January holiday season only. Blue Flag status will be in effect on Hawston, Kleinmond and Castle beaches from 1 Decem-
ber to 17 January. Grotto’s Blue Flag status will remain in effect until 31 March 2021. In the case of Onrus beach (pilot status), water sampling will be done between 1 December and 17 January. Dog owners making use of the Overstrand’s Blue Flag beaches must respect the Blue Flag requirements for these periods. The Blue Flag status is a well-respected international award, ensuring that each Blue Flag beach is not only beautiful and safe but also environmentally friendly and socially responsible, and that it has accessible facilities for the disabled. As such, Blue Flag beaches are highly sought after by tourists. In South Africa, the Blue Flag programme is managed and run by WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) in conjunction with participating municipal authorities. The criteria for the programme are set by the international co-ordinators of the Blue Flag campaign in
Europe, the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). In addition, the Blue Flag Programme is designed to raise environmental awareness and to educate the community about the need to care for our coastline. The programme furthermore stipulates that water samples are taken at regular intervals and that an independent laboratory should be responsible for testing all sea water samples.
