Facilities increase for Covid-19 testing in South Africa

 

The vans have been deployed to areas identified as hot spots. They will test those with symptoms first. The tests will be sent to laboratories. The plan is to eventually do the tests in the vans so that people can have the results within 45 minutes. The Department of Health has ordered Rapid Test kits for this purpose. 

10,000 field workers are visiting the homes of people living in both urban and rural areas. People who show symptoms of Covid-19 will be referred to their clinics for testing. The belief is that people with mild symptoms in rural areas may not seek medical assistance. This will thus pose a grave risk of spreading the virus to others. The government will track and test the contacts of people who test positive. 

 

Additional drive throughs 

Meanwhile pharmaceutical retailer, Dischem, has opened its first drive through testing centres in the parking lots of the shopping centres where they are located. The drive throughs will operate between 9am and 4pm every weekday. If you choose to take one, you’ll have to fill in a form and pay R850 per test. You’ll get your results within 48 hours.  

This follows earlier initiatives by Gift of the Givers who initially put up four mobile testing sites. They have since started expanding on this number. These sites will test anyone with a doctor’s certificate for R750. Averda, a waste management company, manages the removal and disposal of the dangerous waste from these sites free of charge. 

Gift of the Givers has also pledged their help to state hospitals based in Gauteng, the city hardest hit by the pandemic. They have donated personal protective equipment to these hospitals. Gift of the Givers partners with Vuma Mobile. This is a network of medical personnel who will assist by ensuring the equipment goes to the facilities in most need.