The Western Cape Department of Health has expressed concern over the non-adherence to protective behaviour amongst some members of the public.

During his recent address to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned the Cape Metro and the Garden Route as those experiencing higher than average rates of new COVID-19 infections. The number of people admitted to hospital has increased in the Garden Route.

As SABC News’ Mariska Botha reports people walking along the popular promenade in Mouille Point, near Cape Town, appear to have forgotten that COVID-19 still exists.

Wearing masks

Most of them are not wearing masks. The wearing of a mask is still regarded as crucial among protectives measures against the deadly virus.

The Western Cape government says outbreaks in the big metros are settling down with a few super spreader events that have since been contained.

Rural areas, however, are now showing an upswing in numbers. The greatest concern at the moment is the rapid increase of cases over the last week in the Garden Route.

There is also a slight increase in Khayelitsha. Provincial Premier Alan Winde has reiterated his call for joined efforts in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.

“We need to make sure that where-ever we do see these numbers increasing that we manage to bring. them down again under control.  I’ve just mentioned about the economy opening up and we desperately need to do that but we need citizens, remember the deal, we’ve got to make sure we work together, government and citizens working together along with business making sure that we’re doing it safely, doing it responsibly, we remembering the golden rules as well as the three c’s so that we can show the world that we can manage this as a threat of probably in the next month and a half or so a second wave just like is happening in other parts of the world and we really have to keep a close eye and watch on that.”

The head of the Provincial Health Department Dr Keith Cloete says it’s important to adhere to all safety measures aimed to contain the spread of COVID-19.