Garden Route experiencing Covid-19 second wave

The Western Cape Health Department on Thursday said based on the surge in Covid-19 infections in the Garden Route District, it is currently experiencing a second wave.

The Health Department has noted a consistent increase in Covid-19 cases in the Garden Route district over the past four weeks.

The Garden Route’s 230 active cases per 100 000 of the population is almost four times the provincial figure (65 cases per 100 000).

Here is a breakdown of the number of active Covid-19 cases per 100 000:

• Knysna has the highest active case rate with 347 per 100 000.
• Followed by George is second with 319 per 100 000,
• Followed by Bitou (282),
• Bay (229),
• Oudtshoorn (60), and,
• Hessequa (43).

“It’s safe to say that what we are seeing in the Garden Route fits the description of what we call a second wave and what is being described internationally as a second wave, and what we are seeing in the Eastern Cape,” said the provincial head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete.

Adding the biggest risk area, other than the Garden Route to have a second wave, was the Cape Metro.