Health
1. What is the detailed breakdown of (a) new COVID-19 infections and (b) COVID-19 fatalities per district and municipal ward per month from the start of level 1 to date;
2. (a) what are the details of the cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 infections since the start of level 1 and (b) what steps has her Department taken to prevent the further spread of infections;
3. what are her Department’s plans to prevent COVID-19 infections in secondary schools, especially when matriculants are writing their final examinations?
Since 21 September 2020 when the country moved to alert level 1 and as at 30 October 2020:
1. (a) There were 7 346 infections during this period, and
(b) 251 deaths during this period.
The below comprehensive dashboard report indicates the requested data per area for the specified period:
1. (a) The Department has been alerted to a few infections that were linked to a specific cluster.
Cape Metro:
- Southern: there were a cluster outbreak linked to a bar whereby 113 people contracted the virus.
- Western: The outbreak was more diffuse with the involvement of Parklands, Du Noon, Milnerton, Sea Point, City, Centre, Gardens, Fresnaye and Woodstock. Overall, the outbreak is slowing down, but still increasing cases in Sea Point, Parklands and Fresnaye.
- Northern and Tygerberg subdistrict: No clear patterns were identified
- Eastern: concerning areas were Strand, Somerset West and Kuils River
- Southern/Western: concerns were raised over private gyms and school boarding houses.
Rural:
- Garden Route: In Beaufort West, investigations indicated that a large number of cases were from a local school. This was as a result of community transmission where the learners lived and not as a result of an outbreak at the school. In total, 122 cases were linked to this event. There has also been a sharp increase in cases in George with clustering in the Thembalethu area. A cluster was also identified at an Old Age Home in George and along with Pacaltsdorp, Rosemore, Parkdene, Conville and Thembalethu is being monitored.
- Overberg: There were 10 confirmed cases of staff members at Otto du Plessis Hospital. However, there was no single event identified. Gansbaai and Theewaterskloof have also seen an increase in cases but no single event could be linked.
- Cape Winelands: there was an increase of 20 cases in Drakenstein. No clear single event identified.
- West Coast: Outbreak in Saldanha which appears to be abating but requires close watching. Matzikama is still within the first wave.
(b) The Department has been implementing a thorough surveillance system which allows the local health teams to hunt clusters of infections, through contact tracing, pattern identification and testing. It is this surveillance system which enabled the identification of cluster of infections.
Our Surveillance system involves five steps to prevent community transmission of the virus.
- Heightened Vigilance: Each day the contact tracing team in the health districts receive a list of positive cases- drawn from our COVID-19 database.
- Identify patterns that suggest outbreaks: The case managers call each case and advise them to isolate. They will also ask additional questions to establish if they have attended a social gathering or where they work - trying to spot patterns.
- Confirm patterns using data and local knowledge: Once a pattern is spotted, the case managers will dig deeper. They will confirm the pattern looking at all available data sources.
- Activate a multisectoral response: Once the local outbreak is confirmed, the focused containment strategy is activated, and role-players are activated to manage the outbreak. A multisectoral response including Education, environmental health and others in the area was activated.
- Monitor for change: The contact tracing teams will then monitor the response to see if there are increases or decreases in the number of cases linked to the specific event. 2. As advised by the Western Cape Education Department, the Minister of Basic Education has gazetted a formal Standard Operating Procedure for the containment and management of COVID-19 for schools and school communities which must be followed by all schools. It details the safety measures that must be implemented including the wearing of masks, physical distancing, cleaning and sanitising measures, management of Covid-19 cases, and access control among many others. The implementation of these measures will continue to be monitored by education district offices, in conjunction with schools’ Covid-19 Steering Committees and compliance officers.
With regards to the writing of the NSC examinations, the Department of Basic Education issued Circular E21 of 2021 which provides a detailed Protocol on the writing of the 2020 November Examination in Compliance with the COVID-19 Requirements. The measures implemented include daily screening of candidates, cleaning and sanitising measures, and the safe handling of examination materials. It must be read in conjunction with the Standard Operating Procedure referred to above.
Also refer to the attached official communication on protocol and standard operating procedures to be followed as received from the Department of Basic Education and the Western Cape Education Department.
