Eyewitnesses and sources close to the Mashishing Clinic are alleging that the lack of safety procedures by the Department of Health could increase the spread of Covid-19.

A concerned source working close to the clinic alleged that the local health facility appears to be spreading the virus, rather than combating it.

According to information received, several workers tested positive for the virus, yet the clinic was not properly disinfected, and those employees, in turn, came into contact with other staff.

The workers who tested positive continued to assist and treat patients despite being infected.

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It is also alleged that patients are not even aware of the situation and they were not screened after they came in contact with the employees who had tested positive.

“Our fear is not only for our well-being, it also for our loved ones at home and for the patients who visit the local clinic. If a worker comes into contact with any of the patients who have chronic diseases, the patient’s life is at risk.

“More than four workers have tested positive for Covid-19, but the other clinic employees are still expected to go to work like it is a normal day. There is also an instance in which someone who tested positive was allowed to attend a meeting at work,” she explained.

The Mpumalanga Department of Health’s spokesperson Dumisani Malamule said the department was only aware of one positive result and only after 15 days had elapsed.

“The procedure is as follows: the person who tested positive is supposed to be isolated and their contacts line listed and quarantined. In this instance the nurse was not isolated because she volunteered for demonstration purposes,” he explained.

Malamule said the community screening was done at Boschoek Farm where the staff member stays, not in Mashishing.

He also admitted that another employee had tested positive and attended a meeting although he added that proper health measures were followed.

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“The staff member attended the meeting because she had completed the 14-day isolation period. The meeting was held on the 16th day and, according to the guideline, the employee was no longer infectious and asymptomatic. “The staff and the premises comply with Covid-19 regulations. All the staff members were tested on July 15 and they were all negative.”

Malamule said the patients and community were not informed because the isolation and quarantine period had passed.

He added that the clinic was closed at 14:00 on August 15 for sanitisation by Ehlanzeni District municipality and re-opened the following day after deep cleaning by the clinic cleaner.