Small towns are proving increasingly vulnerable to Covid-19 outbreaks, health officials have said.

During a digital briefing on Thursday, Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said the department had noted an increase in outbreaks in vulnerable communities, such as small towns, as the third wave gained momentum.

Over the last few weeks, the province recorded at least four outbreaks in small towns in the Western Cape. This included Kliprand, where the entire town, of around 250 residents, was placed in quarantine after 30 cases of Covid-19 were recorded.

This led to the closure of the town's two shops and prompted a donation drive to supply the residents with food and hygiene packs. Three people died as a result of the outbreak, and the department intends to begin a vaccination drive in the town next week.

Strict measures were also implemented by the Swellendam municipality on Monday, after an outbreak in Suurbraak and Buffeljagsrivier.

On Monday, the municipality said cases had escalated from less than 10 cases, to 139 positive cases in a week.

Mbombo said, during the briefing, that 74 new cases had been recorded.

In response, all events, including church services and the use of public facilities, have been cancelled for 14 days.

"High schools and primary schools within Suurbraak and Buffeljagsrivier are encouraged to be extremely cautious and to screen all students thoroughly. All students presenting with symptoms are required to be reported to the Departments of Health and Education urgently and advised to isolate at home," the municipality said in a statement.

Suurbraak and Buffeljagsrivier will also have controlled access implemented at entryways jointly with Swellendam SAPS, Western Cape provincial traffic services, and Swellendam municipality law enforcement and traffic services.

Outbreaks had also been recorded in Hawston and Murraysburg, said Dr Keith Cloete, head of the Western Cape health department.

"We're now seeing the vulnerability of small towns. [The outbreak is] like a little veldfire [spreading] in that community," he said.

Rural districts in the province reported an increase in infections of more than 50% week on week.

The areas experiencing the biggest increase in cases were the Garden Route (92%) and the Overberg (72%).

"The number of new cases in rural [areas] is also markedly increasing, with all districts showing increasing case numbers," Cloete added.