GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Pressure on hospitals in the Garden Route due to Covid-19 cases is relenting.
Only Oudtshoorn Hospital, although also less busy, still has a high number of Covid patients, according to district health spokesperson Nadia Ferreira.
On Monday 27 September, George Hospital had 26 patients in the Covid ward and 10 in the critical care unit. The number of new cases has continued to decrease over the last seven days compared to 7 to 14 days ago.
As at 27 September there were 1 241 active cases (2 093 a week ago). George has 344 active cases (532 a week ago), Bitou 163, Hessequa 121, Kannaland 25, Knysna 158, Mossel Bay 202 and Oudtshoorn 228.
The district recorded 28 deaths in the seven days up to 27 September compared with 34 deaths in the preceding week and 60 in the week before that.
Abrupt drop in turnout for vaccination
Mediclinic manager Kassie Karstens said there has been an abrupt drop in the number of people being referred through the national electronic vaccination system (EVDS) since last week.
Where they used to schedule between 500 and 600 people per day, it has dropped to about 15 per day.
"Only about half of people usually pitch up, so we have been vaccinating between 250 and 300 people per day. Now it is about seven or eight people. We will have to close the site if this continues." Karstens said efforts to get the problem sorted out, have so far been in vain.
He encouraged the community to get vaccinated. "We believe that by vaccinating and reaching the 70% target, we can protect ourselves, our community, and dramatically reduce the potential impact of a fourth wave expected later in the year."
A booking for vaccination at Mediclinic Geneva can be made through the online portal https://vaccinationbookings.mediclinic.co.za/.
The Mediclinic Geneva site will be open for the upcoming Vooma Vaccination Weekend from 08:00 to 14:00 on Friday and Saturday, 1 and 2 October.
Vooma Vaccination Weekend
Ferreira also encouraged people over 18 to make use of the opportunity to be vaccinated during Vooma Vaccination Weekend from 1 to 3 October. "In the Garden Route, 41% of the population over 18 years has received at least one dose of vaccine. A total of 256 879 vaccines has been administered to date," said Ferreira.
In addition to the Mediclinic Geneva site, Harry Comay TB Hospital will be open from 08:00 to 16:00 on Saturday 2 October.
Premier Alan Winde said a practical approach to ensure that you are protected over the Christmas season and can enjoy time with loved ones, is to get fully vaccinated in time.
Keeping in mind there is a 42-day interval between first and second Pfizer doses, people should receive their first dose by 20 October at the latest and the second dose at the latest two weeks before Christmas - between 1 and 11 December.
It takes two weeks for your immunity to build up maximum protection after the second dose. The SA Modelling Consortium experts predict the Western Cape has a 100% probability of exiting the third wave by this weekend, 2 October.
The fourth wave is anticipated to hit in December.
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