Tshwane to continue Covid-19 outreach as infections drop
“Residents should not let their guard down because the situation can change very quickly.”
The Tshwane metro said it would continue its ward-based outreach campaign to test residents for Covid-19 even though infection rates have dropped in the city.
“Our health department’s outreach teams recorded a drop in the number of people who tested positive,” said health MMC Sakkie du Plooy.
Du Plooy said the teams’ data was gathered from holding regular screenings and testing at Covid-19 hotspot areas such as shopping malls and transport hubs.
“In the week of 29 March to 1 April, only seven out of 185 people tested at Wonderboom Junction, Bronkhorstspruit, Hatfield and Denlyn Mall in Mamelodi tested positive.
“Of the 129 people tested at Mahube Valley in Mamelodi, Gezina, Soshanguve and the Valhalla Taxi Rank from 6 to 9 April, only four tested positive.”
He said only one person had tested positive out of the 185 people who were tested from 12 to 16 April in Mamelodi East, Bronkhorstspruit, Mountain View, Atterbury Value Mart and at the University of Pretoria.
Despite this, he said residents should not let their guard down.
“The situation can change very quickly,” said Du Plooy.
He encouraged the public to continue to act responsibly and ensure they kept to precautionary measures such as social distancing, wearing masks and applying hygiene principles.
“I would like to encourage the public to support the outreach teams when they visit hotspot areas near you. They can screen you and, where necessary, a Covid-19 test will be held – and these services are provided for free.
“Also remember that you can approach any municipal clinic when you feel that you need to be tested for Covid.”
Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mshigo said this week, teams would focus on regions 1, 4 and 6.
He said the campaign had managed to reach close to two million people across the metro.
“This was made possible by the metro’s continued weekly analytical exercise that zooms into all its townships and suburbs to identify areas with a spike of the coronavirus.”
Mashigo said apart from Covid-19, the outreach also did HIV testing, blood pressure monitoring, condom distribution, issued chronic medication and did referrals to the nearest health facilities.
Details of this week’s screening and testing campaign are as follows:
26 April 2021
Areas: Elarduspark, Moreleta Park, Rietvlei and Wingate Park.
28 April 2021
Areas: Dorandia, Theresapark, Klerksoord, Nina Park and Rosslyn Industrial.
29 April 2021
Area: Zwartkop
30 April 2021
Area: Valhalla
These teams do testing from 09:30 to 13:00.
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