GEORGE NEWS - The Western Cape Health Department has adopted new testing criteria for Covid-19 since a sharp increase in cases has started.
District health spokesperson Nadia Ferreira said the emergency centre of George Hospital is experiencing an increase in the number of people reporting over weekends with mild Covid symptoms.
This causes an increase in waiting times for patients. Ferreira appealed to the public who experience mild symptoms and who do not meet the testing criteria, to rather isolate for 10 days at home.
The only people qualifying for a Covid test are those who have Covid symptoms and:
- Are admitted to hospital;
- Are over 50 years;
- Have been in close contact with a cluster of people with Covid-19;
- Are obese or have diabetes, HIV, heart, lung or kidney disease, cancer or tuberculosis.
People may contact their health facility or the Western Cape Call Centre on 0860 142 142 to discuss having a Covid-19 test.
Sahpra approves booster Pfizer dose
The South African Health Products Authority (Sahpra) last week approved the administering of a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine for adults and children with a weak immune system. Therefore, all adults in South Africa are now eligible for an additional shot six months after the second dose and it may be given at any point after that time.
The third dose can also be given to children from the age of 12 who are "severely immunocompromised" no sooner than 28 days after the second dose.
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