Western Cape may be back to a ‘tougher lockdown’.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde remains very open about the prospect of wheeling back the province’s lockdown measures, as cases continue to surge in several hot-spots. Both the Garden Route and the Cape Town Metro regions are under severe scrutiny, as local outbreaks sent the COVID-19 infection rates soaring.

COVID-19 CASES IN THE WESTERN CAPE

The neighbouring Eastern Cape is already staring down the barrel of reintroduced restrictions, with some speculating that a version of ‘Level 3 lockdown’ could return to the province. Last week, Zweli Mkhize hinted that changes were afoot – and it seems the Western Cape is heading in a similar direction.

Local hot-spots – or clusters – are driving up national numbers. With a hectic travel period due in December, the chances of the virus spreading climb sharply. South Africa could be hit by a second wave of COVID-19 if we’re not careful, and it looks like those in the south-west are already on course for some vital interventions:

WESTERN CAPE HOT-SPOTS AND THE ‘DANGEROUS DATA’

CITY OF CAPE TOWN

• The seven-day average is 2 900. In the previous seven-day period, cases were at 1 600.
• A total of 724 patients are currently in hospital – with dozens in ICU – after testing positive for the virus.
• Tygerberg, Mitchell’s Plain, and the Western and Southern Suburbs have experienced the sharpest case increases.

GARDEN ROUTE

• In the Garden Route, the seven-day average is now 2 645 cases. That’s compared to 1 190 cases in the preceding seven days.
• A total of 242 patients are now in hospital with COVID-19.
• George, Mossel Bay, and Knsyna have been branded the most ‘infectious’ regions, with cases more than doubling this week.

ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN THE WESTERN CAPE

• The Garden Route is now experiencing a higher number of cases than it was during the ‘first wave’.
• The City of Cape Town has hit a three-month high for new infections.
• The Western Cape’s District Municipalities are averaging their worst totals since the middle of our winter surge.

WEEKLY AVERAGES PAINT A GRIM PICTURE

• Over 1 100 people are now in hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
• The weekly average for cases in the Western Cape has almost trebled in the past eight weeks.
• The average spiked by almost 1 000 cases – the highest figure since winter.