DEVELOPING: Coronavirus COVID-19 in Cape Town. Updates + practical tips

SA moves to Level 2, vaccination good news + more Covid updates 

Last update: Tuesday, 14 September 

COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS

• SA moves to Level 3 from Level 2
  
  
• More than 1 million people in the Western Cape are fully vaccinated 
  
  
• Uber offers R100 off rides to and from vaccinaton centres 

• Taxi drivers, vendors and commuters receive jabs at vaccination pop-up site
  
  
• President Cyril Ramaphosa’s lockdown update on Sunday, 12 September

SA MOVES TO LEVEL 2 + NEW REGULATIONS

President Cyril Ramaphosa moved South Africa to Alert Level 2, after the country was previously on Alert Level 3 on Sunday 12 September. In his address President Ramaphosa also eased some restrictions, such as sales for off-site alcohol consumption open from Monday - Friday, curfew extended by an hour from 11pm - 4am and the increase of indoor gatherings to 250 people and 500 people outdoors.

President @CyrilRamaphosa addresses the nation on Government's response to the #CoronaVirusSA pandemic #StaySafe https://t.co/fWSS8QBwmh

— Presidency | South Africa ???????? (@PresidencyZA) September 12, 2021

1 MILLION FULLY VACCINATED IN THE WESTERN CAPE

The Western Cape Government shared that by Sunday 12 September, over one million people in the province have been fully vaccinated. In a news update on the Western Cape government’s website, Premier Alan Winde commended those who received their vaccines and encouraged those who have not, stating that “vaccines are safe and are highly effective in preventing severe Covid-19 illness.”

GET R100 OFF ON RIDES TO AND FROM VACCINATION SITES WITH UBER

Now this is an offer you can't refuse: Uber is offering to get you to and from a vaccination site, with R100 off the ride fee. 

How to get the R100 voucher:

• Click here to get the voucher
  
• Click “Add Voucher” to add it to your account.
• The voucher will appear in the ‘Wallet’ section of the app.
• The voucher will be applied when requesting a trip to the select vaccination centres mentioned above.
• Navigate to the rides homescreen and enter the pick-up/drop-off location for yourself or the person you are booking for.
• Confirm your trip.

Read the full info on the R100 off on your Uber rides to get your vaccinations.

TAXI DRIVERS RECEIVE JABS AT VACCINATION POP-UP SITE

Western Cape Provincial Ministers of Health and Transport, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo and Daylin Mitchell led a pop-up vaccination site at the Cape Town Station Deck on Monday 13 September, to vaccinate drivers, commuters and vendors. In a news update on the provincial government’s website, Minister Mbombo stressed the importance of vaccination for taxi drivers and vendors, as they find it difficult to visit vaccination sites during the day due to their working hours. Premier Winde welcomed the pop-up vaccination site, adding that “it is also very positive to see the demand for vaccines among those who are in the transport sector and among those who make use of public transport.”

Western Cape @WCHealthMEC, @nomafrench , together with the Western Cape Minister of @WCGovTPW, @mec_mitchell, joined a vaccination drive this morning at the Cape Town Taxi Rank, aimed at vaccinating operators, commuters, security personnel and vendors in the area. #LetsDoThis pic.twitter.com/ZmPAO6dBno

— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) September 13, 2021

CATCH WINDE’S WEEKLY DIGICON 

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde’s digital press conference provides an update on the Western Cape’s response to Coronavirus. Every week the digital press conference covers topics around Covid-19 updates within the province, the state of the Western Cape’s health and the rollout of the vaccine strategy. In case you’ve missed Winde’s latest Digicon, you can watch it here:
 

COVID-19 UPDATE IN WESTERN CAPE: THE SITUATION NOW

The Western Cape had administered 2 393 336 vaccines as of 14 September and the Western Cape recorded 17 354 active cases of Covid-19 (currently infected patients), with a total of 511 676 confirmed cases, according to the Western Cape government’s dashboard. 

Below are the Western Cape stats, according to the WC government’s dashboard as of 13 September:

• 2 399 187 total vaccines administered
   
• 475 106 recorded recoveries
   
• 19 216 deaths
  
  
• 17 354 active cases

COVID-19 IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE SITUATION NOW

As of 14 September, the National Department of Health had administered a total of 15 188 787 vaccines. So far, the national total of reported cases stands at 2 864 534 cases. Here are the official figures, according to the Department of Health:

• 2 688 692 recorded recoveries, with a 93,9% recovery rate
  
  
• 17 142 604 tests have been conducted
  
  
• 85 302 total deaths

THESE ARE THE BASICS TO STAYING SAFE

Here’s how we can stay safe according to the official coronavirus website:

• Wash your hands regularly with soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. It’s still one of the most effective ways to keep the virus at bay.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Cover your mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

  
  
  

WATCH: NEW CORONAVIRUS MYTHS GET BUSTED BY EPIDEMIOLOGISTS

Science Insider brought back epidemiologists Syra Madad and Stephen Morse to debunk 14 NEW myths about the coronavirus. Some of these myths include washing vegetables with bleach, young kids having immunity, warm weather slowing down the virus and more. Brush up on your Covid-19 knowledge even more by getting familiar with the answers to frequently asked questions about the coronavirus.

HOW SOUTH AFRICA EASES IN AND OUT OF LOCKDOWN

There is a risk-adjusted lockdown strategy in place. There are 5 levels, which will work similarly to loadshedding. These levels are implemented based on the number of new infections and healthcare-system readiness. We are currently under level 4 lockdown. 

For the latest regulation changes that should come with a new level, read our lockdown news update.

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