The Cape Town International Convention Centre will be used as a temporary Covid-19 hospital, creating the capacity to care for an additional 800 people at the peak of the pandemic.
Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde said on Wednesday the site is expected to be up and running by the first week of June, before the expected peak when the beds will be required.
The facility will accommodate patients with milder clinical signs who need hospitalization and treatment including the administration of oxygen. The CTICC will not provide for patients with more severe clinical signs, which will require intensive care treatment.
“The Western Cape’s scenario planning has predicted a shortfall of 1000 acute beds in the province at the peak of the pandemic. The use of the CTICC will allow us to make up the majority of this shortfall- and allow us to render care to those who need it. We intend to make up the remainder of the shortfall with temporary beds in other facilities, in appropriate geographic locations.” Winde said.
The Western Cape has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the country with more then 1800 infections and over 30 deaths.
“The agreement allows the Western Cape Government to make use of the CTICC 1 building immediately up until 7 September, with an option to extend this on a month-to-month basis until the end of the year. The CTICC has agreed to waive the hire cost of the venue, as part of its contribution to the fight against coronavirus,” said Winde.
The site will include beds, showers, nursing stations, support stations, physio stations, and bulk oxygen storage tank spaces.