The Brackenfell field hospital has 116 Covid hospitalisations.
The Brackengate field hospital might have to transfer some of their Covid-19 patients to Mitchell’s Plain field hospitals as they record a rise in hospitalisations.
The Brackengate hospital had 116 Covid-19 patients with 48% of its beds occupied by patients with the virus as at Wednesday December 22 - the highest figure reported in the metro.
As of 1pm on Thursday December 23, the province had 45 891 active Covid-19 cases, provincial spokesperson Shimoney Rigter said in response to questions by this publication.
Once the field hospital reaches 50% bed capacity, the provincial government will move some of the patients to Mitchell’s Plain Hospital, said Premier Alan Winde, who addressed his weekly digital press conference on Wednesday December 22 after an extended cabinet meeting earlier that day.
According to the latests statistics, there were 21 156 new positive test results across SA as at Thursday December 23.
Mr Winde said new diagnoses in the Western Cape are averaging 3 383 a day, while hospital admissions have increased with an average of 138 admissions a day, and deaths are under two a day.
At the time, he said the Brackengate field hospital, officially referred to as Hospital of Hope, had 113 patients (as at Wednesday) with a bed occupancy rate of 33.6%, while Sonstraal, Freesia and Ward 99, and Mitchell’s Plain field hospitals currently have no patients.
Hospitals in the city have an average bed occupancy rate of 87%, Mr Winde said.
Ms Rigter said as at December 24 at 10.30am, 161 patients were admitted to the Brackengate field hospital with the bed’s capacity at 48% - a dramatic jump from the 33% announced by Mr Winde this week.
Mr Winde said the Brackenfell field hospital looks likely to be full soon, but the provincial government has already planned to use the 200 beds available in Mitchell’s Plain.
He said people over 50 years and older could assist the province by getting vaccinated as soon as possible.
“While the indications are positive, we are not yet out of the woods and haven’t yet reached our peak which is why I urge residents to stay safe over the festive season,” Mr Winde said.
Though Covid-19 positive numbers were increasing in the province, the rate was slowing, he said.
He said the provincial government had prepared well for the Omicron fourth wave.