The Garden Route district in the Western Cape has seen an alarming resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the past week, with a reported 117% increase of new cases and a 96% increase in deaths.
The town of George is currently leading in active cases in the province. The area has been described as a hotspot, with both President Cyril Ramaphosa and the provinces Premier, Alan Winde, expressing concern about the second wave of new infections there.
#Covid19 Resurgence alert update. Case details & latest trends for specific regions in the Western Cape ⬇️. Please share this information with people you know in the affected areas. Links to full regional updates & more graphics in the tweet thread below⬇️. pic.twitter.com/gWZ7fz7VVQ
— Western Cape Gov (@WesternCapeGov) November 27, 2020
Health department spokesperson, Nadia Ferreira says, “After recording 1 282 new cases and and 25 new deaths over the past 7 days, all areas in the Garden Route are of great concern. As we have seen during the first wave of infections, once community transmission has been established within communities, especially in the Garden Route as a prime tourist destination, the situation can quickly deteriorate if not brought under control soon.”
The province currently has a total of 129 726 confirmed cases with 4 601 COVID-19 related deaths. The recovery rate is at 115 470.
Infographic: latest COVID-19 statistics in South Africa
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Enforcing compliance
Meanwhile on Friday Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security in the City of Cape Town, JP Smith, said law enforcement agencies will focus on enforcing compliance to alcohol laws over the festive season.
Speaking in Philippi during the launch of a safer festive season campaign, Smith says they have strengthened their working relations with the provincial government and police.
“For us road enforcement is a primary component of what we are required to do liquor plays a major role in unecessary fatalities we can really slash as we saw during the beginning of the lockdown, take alcohol out of the equation and society transforms.”
