Close to 11,000 screenings done at clinics

Lolo Madonsela

The Department of Health (DoH) and the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) are making strides in conducting screenings for Covid-19 in Vryheid and the surrounding areas.
From April 8 to 22, a total of 7034 people were screened in eMondlo by the community screening teams, with 10 suspected cases and two contacts, while the clinics have conducted a total of 10,746 individual screenings.
290 households and 1147 people in Ward 12 were screened, and six suspected cases were found. Two suspected cases were found in Ward 17, with the screening of 327 households and 1311 people. In Ward 18 (674 households and a total of 1937 people), one suspected case was found. In Ward 19 (458 households), 1927 people were screened and no suspected cases were found. Ward 20 saw the screening of 194 households and 712 people, with one suspected case and two contacts found.
Giving the stats at the JOC meeting on behalf of Vryheid Hospital, Sister Mavuso said that these screenings were still continuing in eMondlo and that, “No testing will be done on people without signs of the virus. However, when you have been exposed or have been a contact, then you automatically get tested. This means everyone gets screened, but not everyone gets tested.”
As at 22 April, South Africa was sitting at 3953 positive cases, with 473 recoveries and 75 deaths. KwaZulu-Natal has 587 positive cases. AbaQulusi only has two cases, of which one is in isolation and the other awaiting test results.

Also read: eMondlo: First at mass Covid-19 screening

According to KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala, “We have an army of 565 community screening and testing teams, which amounts to 1130 cadres on the ground, distributed throughout the province. This army will be increased as more people are enrolled and trained on implementation of the programme. Those people with the requisite skills are encouraged to volunteer through the Department of Health so that the team can be bigger and stronger. Besides the volunteers, the 10,488 community caregivers are going to be part of the teams as they go through different parts of the province. We are confident that through our deployment of these battle-ready troops, we will ultimately make a significant dent in our quest to flatten the curve of new infections.”
The DoH urges those who are on chronic medication to desist from collecting their meds from clinics, but rather opt to collect from their designated pick-up points such as Clicks Pharmacy and others.
“This is meant to avoid long queues at clinics and to also limit infections, as those with chronic illnesses are at high risk of getting infected. However, all other services – such as immunisations, regular check-ups for pregnant women and other general services – are still being carried out at clinics,” added Sister Mavuso.
Screenings will continue throughout AbaQulusi, including farming communities and rural areas.

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