Dramatic spike in Garden Route Covid Cases

KNYSNA | BITOU NEWS - Together with the Garden Route's dramatic 29% increase of Covid cases in the seven days from 19 to 26 July, Knysna and Bitou have seen rises in both active and new cases.

According to Department of Health spokesperson Nadia Ferreira, all of the sub-districts in the Garden Route saw percentage increases (except for Mossel Bay) with Hessequa and Bitou seeing the largest percentage increases.

Last week Knysna and Bitou seemed to have slightly stabilised, with their rapid rise in the third wave slowing down.

In Knysna the active cases rose but the new cases dropped, while in Bitou it was the opposite as the new cases rose but the active cases dropped.

This week, however, in the wake of the country's move back to an adjusted Level 3, this trend was bucked by both sub-districts as the figures rose once again.

As at Tuesday 27 July, Knysna had recorded a total of 6 183 cases of Covid-19, of which 5 514 have recovered, 186 have died, and 483 are active cases. This indicates a total of 304 new cases in the seven days from 20 to 27 July, which equates to a 25,37% increase (+68) from last week.

The number of active cases rose by only 2,99% (+14) this week, which is once again less than the previous week's rise.

The recovery rate has also increased for the first time since 25 May, ending an eight-week run in which it consistently dropped. It now stands on 89,18% (88,93% last week). The deaths have increased for the sixth week in a row, albeit only by four this week, with the mortality rate now on 3% - the first time it's dipped below 3,1% since 6 January.

In Bitou as at Tuesday, 3 240 Covid-19 cases had been recorded, with 2 994 having recovered, 107 having died, and 139 being active cases.

This shows a total of 98 new cases recorded from 20 to 27 July, rising by 84,91% (+45) from last week. After last week's drop, the active cases have risen once again. Rising by 9,32% (+11) this week, it is the highest number of active cases Bitou has seen in the third wave and the highest since 20 January.

Last week Bitou's recovery rate increased for the first time in seven weeks, however, this feat was not repeated this week. The recovery rate in Bitou is now 92,41% (92,84% last week).

The deaths have stayed the same this week after two previous weeks of increases. The mortality rate now stands on 3,3% - the first time it has been less than 3,4% since 2 December 2020.

Graphics: Blake Linder