| City Health ready to respond to Monkeypox | City's Health Service ready to respond to Monkeypox | <p></p><p>The City of Cape Town's Health Department is working closely with other spheres of government and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases to manage any potential outbreak of monkeypox in the metropole.</p><p>Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus. It can spread from animals to humans, and also between people. Spread is through close physical contact with someone who has symptoms (particularly the rash). However, the risk of infection to the South African population remains low, given the low transmissibility of the virus. The Monkeypox virus is far less transmissible than Covid, for example. </p><p>Symptoms include a fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash or lesions. The rash usually begins within one to three days of the start of a fever, and is most prevalent on the face, palms and soles of the feet. It can also be found on the mouth, genitals and eyes.</p><p>Symptoms typically last between two to four weeks and go away on their own without treatment; however, infants, children, pregnant women and those with comorbidities or immunity problems may be at risk of more serious disease. </p><p>City Health Clinics are prepared to test and provide supportive treatment to those who are symptomatic, as well as, provide guidance and information to them and their loved ones.</p><p> </p><p>City Health Outbreak response teams, which include Primary Health Care and Environmental Health Services will assist in case management and contact tracing, similar to what was done during the Covid-19 pandemic, and investigate localised outbreaks in congregate settings.</p><p> </p><p>'The news of our first case of monkeypox will no doubt cause some concern and anxiety for our residents. It is important to note that due to the low risk of transmission, a wide spread outbreak of Monkeypox is highly unlikely. City Health will do everything possible to help mitigate the impact of the virus. Our health response was severely tested during the Covid-19 pandemic, and I think the experiences will be extremely valuable in managing any future disease outbreaks. However, we remind the public that health is a shared responsibility. Please do ensure that you are alert to the signs and symptoms of monkeypox, and that you help create awareness within your family and community, without fear-mongering or judgement, and to steer clear of spreading fake news. If you are unsure about what to do, seek advice at your nearest clinic or private health service provider,' said the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.</p><p> </p><p>For more information on the virus, please refer to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases Fact Sheet: <a href="http://bit.do/fUCcm">http://bit.do/fUCcm</a><br></p><p><br></p> | 2022-06-28T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City advises of water supply disruptions in Simon’s Town | The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will be shutting off the water supply to various sections of Simon’s Town on Tuesday, 28 June 2022 and Wednesday, 29 June 2022. | <p><br></p><div>The water supply to Simon’s Town will be shut off from 21:00 on Tuesday, 28 June until 05:00 on Wednesday, 29 June 2022 to enable the maintenance team to repair, service and replace faulty fire hydrants along Main Road, Simon’s Town.</div><div><br></div><div>Careful consideration has been given to the planning of this work to specifically schedule it to happen during a period that is least disruptive to the residents and businesses alike in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, 29 June 2022 the water supply to the area between Red Hill Road and Simon’s Town Main Road will be shut off from 08:30 until 16:00. This will enable the maintenance team to do a tie-in on the 300mm diameter water main. This will enhance the water supply infrastructure by affording an alternate water supply route for the area. </div><div><br></div><div>Residents are kindly advised to store water upfront in clean, sealed containers for domestic use during both periods of water supply disruptions and to ensure that their taps are closed to avoid water loss and/or damage when the supply is restored.</div><div><br></div><div>‘This work forms part of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s reticulation maintenance and upgrade programme, which addresses the maintenance and enhancement of the water supply network, in particular the distribution system for supplying water to our consumers. It also ensures the effective operation of fire hydrants when required. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to the consumers in these areas, but it is a necessity that has to be done soonest,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><strong>End</strong><br></div><p><br></p> | 2022-06-27T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Madiba and Tutu Murals Completed: A Restoration of Hope | STATEMENT BY CAPE TOWN MAYOR, GEORDIN HILL-LEWIS | <p>I am delighted today to reveal the new decals on the Civic Centre Tower Block depicting two beloved icons of South African history – Madiba and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. </p><p>Their vision of a prosperous country united in its diversity is one that we share and strive for. The renewal of these murals is symbolic of the hope that we aim to restore to our city and to our nation. </p><p>We had anticipated the project to take one month to complete, but the team managed to restore the images to their former glory within three weeks. I wish to express my gratitude to the team overseeing this project. <br></p><span><p></p><span>
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<figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> </figure></span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> </figure></span><p>Retaining the existing artwork enabled us to preserve the unique imagery without unduly inflating costs. The restoration of the Civic Centre’s decals is just one element of an ongoing process of renewal in the city. The restored twelve-floor-high window murals will once again welcome motorists as they enter the CBD. </p><p>Madiba’s shirt contains images representing some of the city’s most iconic features, including the Bo-Kaap, the penguins at Boulders Beach, Table Mountain, a minstrel at the Kaapse Klopse, and the King Protea. Archbishop Tutu’s shirt contains imagery of tolerance, freedom, togetherness, and peace. </p><p>With a refreshed appearance, the depiction of these moral guardians offer renewed inspiration that we can achieve the goal of our new Integrated Development Plan: A City of Hope for All.<br><br></p><span>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Mayor%20and%20mural%20team.jpg" alt="" style="width:507px;" /> </figure></span><p>The conceptual design was done by Dreamfuel Media, who specified that the clothing of the subjects in the artwork should contain various imagery of special significance to Cape Town and South Africa. The image of Madiba was based on a photograph by Matthew Willman and the image of Archbishop Tutu draws on a photograph by Andrew Zuckerman.</p><p>The concept designers selected Cape Flats-born artist Linsey Levendall to illustrate it. His resultant artwork invokes a sense of hope and optimism about our country’s future, healing from the wounds of the past, and celebrating the beauty of its diverse people and environment. <br><br></p><p><strong>End</strong><br><br></p> | 2022-06-27T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Stage 6 load-shedding warning: City continues to build reserves to help reduce impact | The City of Cape Town has been building reserves in an effort to help reduce the impact of higher stages of Eskom’s load-shedding. | <p>‘As a City, we will do all we can to help our residents, protect service delivery and infrastructure and keep our network stable. Needless to say, Stage 6 load-shedding will have a profound impact on Cape Town and we are working to make sure the impact is reduced as far as possible by offering some protection from the higher stages of load-shedding. <br> <br>‘This just underscores how necessary it is for Cape Town to move on our own to end load-shedding and reduce our reliance on Eskom power as quickly as we can. Much work is already under way with this goal in mind - in the City’s own build, small-scale embedded generation, wheeling and independent power producer programmes. In fact, the bid process for Independent Power Producers closed yesterday. In the meantime, we are doing everything in our power to assist our customers and we thank them for their support,’ said Executive Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis.</p><p><strong>Flatten the peak use! </strong><br>‘Eskom’s load-shedding typically happens at short notice and it is done to prevent a total collapse of the national power system, known as a blackout. <br> <br>‘The City always tries its very best to protect its customers. This is evident by looking at the data: Between January and May 2022, the City protected its customers through the use of the Steenbras Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme with one stage of load-shedding amounting to approximately 514 hours or 21 days of protection. Currently, the City has not offered much protection as it has worked to make sure there are reserves in place to stabilise the power grid for our customers should Eskom advise that we are heading into higher stages of load-shedding. <br> <br>‘Customers can help by reducing power usage especially in the evening and mornings – flatten the peak by delaying the use of electrical appliances to non-peak times and switching off non-essential electrical appliances. Geysers use the bulk of household energy and reducing the temperature of the geyser to 60 degrees Celsius or making sure the geyser is on a timer and only active for an hour or two per day is a crucial step to reducing energy usage and making sure we are able to build some reserves,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen. <br> <br><strong>Eskom’s load-shedding – what happens from Stage 4? </strong></p><p> </p><table width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-default" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:33.33%;"><strong>Load-shedding for City customers – what it means</strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:33.33%;"></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:33.33%;"></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>Stage </strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>What happens </strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>Power off duration </strong></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>Stage 4 </strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Four areas off, three times per day. </td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p>Stage 1 to 4 – at any given time customers are only being shed for 2,5 hours.</p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Stage 5 and beyond could see load-shedding blocks of 4,5 hours added on a day or an alternate day depending on a particular schedule. Customers would need to check their own areas and schedules.</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>Stage 5</strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Five areas off; three times per day. </td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">One of the load-shedding blocks is 4,5 hours while the other two load-shedding durations will be 2,5 hours. </td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>Stage 6</strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Six areas off, three times per day. </td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p>Customers could experience two 4,5 hour load-shedding blocks on alternate days. They'd need to check their particular schedule to see the impact. </p><p>The remaining load-shedding block (s) would be 2,5 hours each. </p></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>Stage 7</strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Seven areas off, three times per day.</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p>Customers could experience two 4,5 hour load-shedding blocks in the day or on an alternate day (according to the particular schedule).</p><p>The remaining load-shedding block (s) would be 2,5 hours each. </p></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>Stage 8 </strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">50% of areas off at the same time.</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">No relief: 4,5 hour load-shedding blocks, three times per day as long as Stage 8 is active.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><strong>The City is holding as much reserves as possible as contingency measures to avoid the worst-case scenarios. </strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"> </td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Load-shedding tips </strong></p><p> </p><table width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-default" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:100%;"><strong>Load-shedding toolkit – tips </strong></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Keep devices charged</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p>Make a family contact plan: </p><p>*To help keep in touch should the power go out for prolonged periods (no or low cell reception/connectivity)</p><p>* Keep vulnerable family members and friends in mind. </p></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Make a workplace contact plan (no or low cell reception/connectivity)</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Approach intersections where the traffic signals are off, as four-way stops.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Switch off electrical appliances to avoid nuisance tripping and reduce geyser temperature to 60˚C, or put geyser on a timer. </td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Make sure your vehicle has fuel in the tank.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Keep cash on you as ATMs can't operate without electricity.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Make sure backup batteries for electrically operated gates, garage doors and security systems are able to last through periods of load-shedding.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Store temporary lighting such as battery-powered torches, gas lamps and candles (with lighters) in places where they will be easy to find in the dark.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p><strong>Plan ahead</strong></p><p>Check out the City's load-shedding app. To download:</p><p> </p><p>🍎 <a href="https://apple.co/3iPP07o"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">https://apple.co/3iPP07o</span></a></p><p>Android: <a href="https://bit.ly/CCTApp-Android"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">https://bit.ly/CCTApp-Android</span></a></p><p> </p><p>City's service channels (please only use one channel):</p><p>SMS: 31220 (standard charges apply)</p><p>Email: power@capetown.gov.za</p><p>Online: <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests</span></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>End</strong></p><p><strong></strong> </p> | 2022-06-27T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
