With nearly 1 500 fatalities in the province and more than 50 000 cases to date, the City's Health Department reiterates its call for the public to do their part to stay safe.
The City of Cape Town notes with concern the continued lack of adherence to
COVID-19 health and safety protocols in some parts of the metropole.
As one of the many departments involved in the education and awareness activities in hotspot communities, our Environmental Health Service reports that socia l distancing, in particular, remains a challenge in areas where persons congregate, like shopping malls, retailers and social grant queues, among others.
There have also been reports from the Environmental Health Practitioners of taxis operating at full capacity, in contravention of the current regulations, and non-adherence around the wearing of masks in public.
‘We've spoken often of the expected peak of COVID-19 in the Western Cape, and while an increase in the caseload is therefore not a surprise, the fact is that behaviour that is
not in keeping with the health and safety protocols does not help.
We need to get to a point where every single one of us treats this pandemic with the seriousness it deserves.
The growing caseload and number of fatalities should be setting off alarm bells and a greater level of adherence, but this doesn't appear to be the case in far too many of our communities,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
In recent months, the City has increased its education and awareness activities, handed out masks, soap and sanitiser in vulnerable communities, fast-tracked 200 contract posts to increase the number of health staff, and undertook the introduction of overflow facilities at clinics to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 exposure.
In addition, 490 Expanded Public Works employees are now deployed to assist with ongoing education and awareness activities in communities.
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