WESTERN CAPE NEWS - Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said in a digital media conference this afternoon that ICU hospital beds in the province are scarce.
Therefore the Joint Operations Centre workstreams are engaging with the private sector and are looking to increase capacity for Covid-19 purposes. All main hospitals are being set up to admit Covid-19 cases needing hospitalisation by creating special wings, such as has been done in George.
"Patients waiting for elective procedures have been sent home in order to create the necessary space."
He said they are informed on how many beds and ventilators will be required by studying what is happening elsewhere in the world. The health department is looking at possible spare capacity and the erection of field hospitals that will be triggered as required by case loads. Protective gear is also being sourced and additional ventilators purchased.
Western Cape Public Works is continuing to look at various opportunities for decanting people. "It is for a range of things - people need to be quarantined, we need to find space for homeless people and medical care, as well as space for the work that happens in communities around feeding, the social development kind of care."
He said 90% of Covid-19 cases will have to deal with the illness while they are still at home and being quarantined, amid challenging social circumstances. In order to prepare for this, the social development department is looking at certain areas in the wards to create spaces on the ground where volunteers may come to prepare meals to be dropped off for these people. Public Works is assisting with finding available spaces.
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