Five.
That is the number of Covid-19 deaths recorded in the West Coast District with at least one death in the Saldanha Bay-subdistrict as on Tuesday 2 June.
Covid-19 cases have been growing at an alarming rate in the Saldanha Bay area, with the latest statistics confirming 117 positive cases with 36 recoveries (4 June) from 42 cases and nine recoveries on 26 May.
Department of Health spokesperson, Leensie Lötter attributes this increase in infections to community transmission.”
Community transmission has been established in the community and the virus spreads faster due to the movement of people. This can be ascribed to various aspects and how and where people move as well as people who do not know that they are actually infected,” says Lötter.
The Department of Health admits the West Coast could soon have a shortage of medical personnel. If the current trend persists the Saldanha Bay area could potentially have over 600 infections by July. The provincial hospital has 32 beds available.
“We will need more medical personnel such as nurses and doctors but we are in discussions to allocate more staff to the area.”
Towns most affected
According to the latest statistics released on the Western Cape Government’s Covid-19 dashboard on Monday, towns most affected by the virus within Weslander’s distribution area are:- Malmesbury (135), Saldanha (45), Porterville (38), Vredenburg (34), Diazville (24), Darling (15), St. Helena Bay (9), Mooreesburg (8), Langebaan (7), Velddrif (6), Lamberts Bay (4), Hopefield (3) and Piketberg (3). This data is 80-85% accurate and dependent on accuracy of address information received.
Screening and testing in hotspot areas
Lötter says community screening and testing (CST) continues in all West Coast-subdistricts.
The sites visited are aligned with the current hotspots within the sub-district.
“For example, Porterville had a CST site for an entire week (18 – 22 May) following an increase in the number of positive cases reported. Businesses and their staff are also included in the CST schedule since these are not places of self-isolation,” Lötter explained.
What’s the difference?
Isolation: When a person who has been confirmed positive is separated from others.
Quarantine: For people who have been in close contact with someone who is positive and/or awaiting test results.
Self-isolation at home
Those who have tested positive can self-isolate at home for 14 days if they have mild to moderate symptoms and can do so in a separate room and can easily stay in touch with their healthcare worker. “During this time you should not leave your home. Stay in a separate room. Arrange with family and friends to drop food, groceries and medicine at the door.”
The bathroom also needs to be sanitised after some who is self-isolating used it.
Lötter says, although health workers do their best to educate those in self-isolation, it is up to the person to adhere to these guidelines. People who cannot self-isolate at home are referred to quarantine and isolation sites.
Quarantine and self-isolation sites
In the West Coast two resorts Saldanha Bay Resort and Tabakbaai has been identified as the self-isolation and quarantine sites with 200 and 180 beds respectively. On Tuesday there were 32 patients in the self-isolation site and four in the quarantine area.
When your status has been confirmed, healthcare workers will do a risk assessment and if you cannot safely quarantine or isolate at home, you will be referred to a comfortable and safe quarantine or isolation facility.
The facility is free and you will receive transport, meals, and a laundry service while there. “At these facilities you will be monitored daily by the Department of Health. However, no visitors will be allowed and no contact will be allowed with the staff at the facility to limit the risk of infection.”
Stay safe
Remember the five golden rules: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 second, don’t touch your face, stay home if you have to go out, wear a cloth mask and keep at least 1.5 m from other people, Cover your cough and sneeze with your elbow or a tissue and stay home if you feel sick and seek urgent medical care if you struggle to breathe.
If you have flu-like symptoms such as a fever, sore body, fatigue, cough and/or struggle to breathe, you need to be screened for Covid-19. There are three ways to be screened for Covid-19: Use the self-screening tool on the Western Cape Government coronavirus website: www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus, call the toll-free provincial hotline on 021 928 4102 or call your doctor or clinic and ask that they screen you telephonically.
