GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - Community screening and testing for Covid-19 is being rolled out today, Monday 6 April, in certain areas in the Western Cape with Kwanonqaba in Mossel Bay being one of the targeted settlements.
A resident here recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Western Cape Government Health announced at the weekend that this rollout is in line with the President and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize’s announcement that fieldworkers will start with an active screening and testing programme in areas regarded as hot spots or where people have been tested positive for the coronavirus.
"With the number of positive COVID-19 cases spreading in communities, the risk to vulnerable communities is increasing. Government health services are actively trying to find people who might need help through talking to people (screening) and thus to determine whether they need to go for testing so we can refer them for treatment," says Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, MEC for Health in Western Cape.
“We must ensure that our vulnerable communities are screened and tested in greater numbers to ensure our people are protected against the spread of the COVID-19 disease."
She will be visiting Mbekweni in Paarl today to give support to the department's community teams.
The screening and testing will start in the following areas:
Cape Town Metro sub-districts
Khayelitsha: Town2 and Ilitha Park (Monday)
Eastern: Happy Valley (Monday)
Western: Bo-Kaap (Tuesday)
Tygerberg: Bishop Lavis (Monday)
Klipfontein: Philippi (Tuesday)
Rural districts
Kwanonqaba, Mossel Bay (Monday)
Mbekweni, Cape Winelands (Monday)
Screening and testing will be expanded to other vulnerable communities at high risk of coronavirus spreading from person to person. Screening will be conducted door-to-door by trained field workers in these areas using simple verbal questions to identify people who may require testing. Health workers will ask health questions aimed at screening for symptoms (a sore throat, a cough or fever). Screening will either be done via community health workers visiting homes, or mobile units in the form of gazebos to be erected in these areas. "Our fieldworkers will have ID tags and identifiable clothing. We ask the public to please allow our workers to screen them," asks Mbombo. "Testing will be done if the questions indicate that you require a further test. The health worker will refer you to the closest testing centre. The test will be done by taking a swab from your nose and throat. This will either be done in a clinic, or in a mobile parked in your area. Test results will not be immediately available but patients will be followed up and advised of their status."
What individuals must do
Please welcome health workers when screening
Answer the questions honestly.
Remember the 5 golden rules: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, keep surfaces clean, do not touch your face, cough and sneeze in your elbow fold, keep 1,5m away from people, and stay at home
Please co-operate fully and support family for testing
What communities should do
Please encourage people to be screened and tested
Look out for health workers who have official dentification and branded clothing
Please support our health workers and keep them safe
Please help to keep communities clean and encourage good behaviour
Don’t be afraid of testing or potentially sick people.
Please support the elderly and children
Where to get help
Call numbers:
National Hotline: 0800 029 999
Provincial hotline: 021 928 4102
WhatsApp “hi” to 0600 123 456
All lines are operational 24/7.
Contact your local NGO or health worker, or your closest clinic.
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