WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Western Cape Government Coronavirus Health Workstream is urgently addressing the need for various medical supplies, some of which are already en route. The province has placed orders for R45 million in medical equipment and personal protective equipment, according to Premier Alan Winde in a statement issued on Wednesday 25 March.
He said Cabinet on 25 March approved a proposal by the Provincial Treasury to make funds available for the Coronavirus response. The proposal allows for under-spending on the compensation of employees in the Departments of Health, Social Development and Local Government from the 2019/20 year, to be retained and reprioritised towards addressing the crisis. In other departments, the under spending will be consolidated and redirected where required.
The proposal also allows for funding kept aside in the 2020/21 financial year for unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure to be used to bolster the Western Cape Government’s Coronavirus response.
12 from Garden Route Covid-19 positive
Twelve of the Western Cape's confirmed Covid-19 cases are from the Garden Route according to the figures released today, 25 March, by the Western Cape Government.
Cape Town has 143 cases out of the total of 191.
Local Government
Cabinet also approved a plan by Minister of Local Government and Environmental Affairs, Anotn Bredell, that will ensure a coordinated approach to the Coronavirus at the municipal level, tying them in with the provincial response and work streams.
"Residents can be assured that district municipalities will also continue to render all essential services, including firefighting, road maintenance and environmental health services, over the lock down period. We also welcome the fact that the Department of Local Government has created braille coronavirus awareness and mitigation pamphlets, which helps us to spread important messages to the sight-impaired in the province."
He said the continued rapid spread of this virus is a call to everyone to obey the upcoming lockdown by staying home. "Extreme social distancing is the very best tool we have to stop this virus in its tracks."
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