Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain COVID-19 update – 10 December 2020

The Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain Subdistricts in the Metro have both recorded a 53% increase in new COVID-19 infections this past seven days. The high-risk areas are Gugulethu, Tafelsig and Lentegeur which has seen the highest number of new active cases for the last seven days.

“People are becoming resistant to isolation adherence, which is a major concern if we are striving to reduce the infection rate in these high risk areas in the metro,” says Eugene Engle, Contact Tracing Team member for the Western Cape Government Health Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain Substructure.

“We urge our communities to be adhere to the COVID-19 preventative measures such as wearing a mask and avoiding crowds and to stay home if infected, awaiting results or if you are a close contact,” says Eugene.

New cases in the Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain subdistrict in the Metropole over the last 7 days:

The subdistrict collectively also recorded 31 new COVID-19 deaths over the last 7 days.

Further reports from our local surveillance team indicate that gatherings at social events, going to shopping centres while not adhering to protective measures such as wearing a mask and keeping a distance has led to quite a few cases testing positive. We call on the citizens of each of these subdistricts and as a collective to do their part so we can bring the situation under control again. We all have a role to play through our own actions.

Our behaviour will be influenced once we acknowledge and accept that the virus is not gone but will be with us over the holidays and beyond. Therefore, we need to remain safe and protect each other by:

• Wearing a mask properly is of life-saving importance. You must always wear your masks when outside of your home. There can be no exceptions.
• You must avoid crowded and confined spaces at all costs. This is where super-spreader events take place.
• You must urgently reconsider hosting all non-essential gatherings of people this year, especially indoor gatherings with poor ventilation. 
• You must ensure there is always good ventilation whenever you’re in public. The virus droplets spread by air in confined spaces, and so fresher is better.
• You must wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use sanitiser.
• If you feel sick, you should not leave your home unless it is to get healthcare treatment. You must first call our hotline on 080 928 4102 for guidance on the next steps.
• You should also not visit someone who is sick, and find other ways to provide support, like delivering a meal to a neighbour’s doorstep.

Every single resident should assume that Covid-19 is everywhere they go and take all the necessary precautions at every point along their journey.