City’s health department screens Alberton’s taxi industry

Greater Alberton Taxi Association (GATA) afforded taxi drivers, taxi owners and commuters an opportunity to be screened on June 3 and 4 at Du Plessis taxi rank.

With the aim to curb the spread of coronavirus, about 300 to 400 taxi drivers including commuters received a visit from Ekurhuleni’s health department. This included taxi drivers travelling to Thokoza, Greenfields, Eden Park, Sky City and Katlehong among others.

The Covid-19 screening was primarily focused on the elderly, those with chronic diseases, those with respiratory illnesses and those that showed signs of infection.

With the health department stationed at the taxi rank, commuters visited stalls where they were tested and registered on the department’s database. Professional nurses and health promoters were present to educate taxi drivers and commuters about the virus and ways to curb it from spreading.

Mandla Nzimande, Greater Alberton Taxi Association’s chairperson, commended the health department for providing Covid-19 screening.

“This was also extended to commuters because we believe most of them have never had this opportunity. We believe this will be effective because through this screening, the department will be able to gather accurate stats and we will be providing a solution,” he said.

Nzimande said if a driver has tested positive, they would then handle the situation with extra sensitivity.

“If that’s the case, we will work closely with the health department. We will have to stop that driver from performing his duties to isolate for a certain time. We will keep monitoring and offering support to the driver,” he said.

Sister Thembi Mahlangu advised the community to get tested and always maintain a good hygienic environment.

“If a person tests positive, we will follow up with them and they will be asked to isolate themselves. People need to take this seriously because some people don’t even show symptoms,” she said.