- Health authorities in the Western Cape say hospitals in the public and private sectors have increased admissions markedly to around 170 a day.
- On Monday, the Mitchells Plain Hospital of Hope received its first patients for the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- By Monday afternoon, the Western Cape had 24 783 active Covid-19 infections.
The Western Cape has experienced a spike in hospital admissions amid a sharp resurgence of Covid-19 infections.
Health authorities say hospital admissions in the private and public sectors have increased markedly to around 170 a day.
But, contingency plans are in place, according to Mark van der Heever, spokesperson for the provincial health department.
"Though we are seeing an increase in admissions, the public sector hospitals still have beds available, and no hospital is on divert. The department continues to closely monitor the usage of beds across our province, through a centrally coordinated and professional operation, known as the Bed Bureau Management System."
Van der Heever said they provisioned for 636 intermediate Covid-19 care beds.
336 beds at the Brackengate Hospital of Hope;
- 200 beds at the Mitchells Plain Hospital of Hope; 44 of these have been activated;
- 40 beds at Ward 99 in Lentegeur Hospital, which was opened after the peak of the first wave and had very low occupancy; it was retained in preparation for a second wave;
- 60 beds at the Sonstraal Hospital, which was prepared and opened after the first wave peak; these beds were retained in preparation for a second wave.
On Monday, Mitchells Plain Hospital of Hope was fully reactivated. The 200-bed field hospital began admitting patients last week Wednesday. It has added 44 beds, equipped with oxygen systems.
Gauteng is the province which has been experienced the most severe spike in cases and deaths during the third wave, with hospitals there stretched to capacity. Staff are struggling to cope with the impact of the pandemic.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said the Cape was seeing an increase in all categories, including the testing rate to deaths.
"We now have over 2 000 people admitted to our hospitals for Covid-19, of which 505 are in ICU or high care. On average, there are 1 600 new cases diagnosed each day. Test positivity has also increased to approximately 30% and admissions, in both the public and private sector, have increased significantly to 170 a day. Covid-19-related deaths have also sadly increased to around 35 per day."