What you need to know about Covid-19 testing in SA

Netcare general manager for emergency, trauma, transplant and CSI, Mande Toubkin said individuals meeting the case definitions for Covid-19 should follow the following steps.

1. Do not go to a hospital or emergency department for screening or testing.

“Coming to a hospital if you suspect that you have Covid-19 places the hospital community or others at unnecessary risk. What is important is that you practise social distancing and self-quarantine at home so you don’t spread the infection to others,” said Toubkin.

2. Phone your primary healthcare provider if you meet the case definitions for Covid-19. Don’t go to the GP’s rooms without calling in advance.

Toubkin said people should bring relevant information to their GP’s attention including recent travel history, contact with persons who had recently travelled to countries with Covid-19 outbreaks, personal contact with a person with confirmed Covid-19, or symptoms associated with the Covid-19 you are experiencing. The doctor may ask specific questions to assess you, advise whether you need to be tested and give you a referral to a pathology laboratory for testing to be done. If the doctor wants to examine you at the consulting rooms, necessary safety precautions will need to be taken to safeguard the healthcare professions and others in the facility from possible infection. Patients should receive test results within 48 hours.

ALSO READ: World Health Organisation: The world needs solidarity to fight Covid-19

3. Those awaiting the test results should self-quarantine at home

•  Do not leave your house to go to public places. If you need to go outside, do so on your own, not with any other people
•  If you live with other people, avoid or keep minimum contact with them. Keep a distance of 2m from other people. Do not spend time in the same room as another person
•  Stay in a well-ventilated room
•  Discourage any visitors to your home
•  If you have a cough, wear a mask
•  Use tissues and dispose of them in a separate rubbish bag
•  Wash your hands thoroughly and often using hot water for at least 20 seconds
•  If you share a bathroom with others, clean the bathroom, door handles, taps and any other surfaces using a bleach-based disinfectant each time you use the bathroom
•  Keep towels you use separately
•  Ask family and friends to deliver essential groceries and medicines you need while in self-quarantine. Arrange for items to be delivered outside your home for you to fetch
•  Don’t eat with other people at home. If possible, use disposable crockery and utensils. Keep crockery and utensils separate from the others used in your home and wash them yourself
•  Maintain good home hygiene by regularly cleaning surfaces you have touched with a bleach-based disinfectant
•  Wash your clothes separately from others in a washing machine at a high temperature
•  If your symptoms worsen, phone the doctor who tested you for guidance.

“The over 80 per cent of people with confirmed Covid-19 who have little or mild symptoms do not need to be admitted to hospital but will be able to recover at home, in self-quarantine, for 14 days. Only persons whose condition is such that they require in-hospital care need to be admitted,” said Toubkin.

Alternatively, contact the coronavirus hotline on 080 002 9999 between 9am and 4pm from Monday to Friday and you will be advised regarding a possible testing facility near you.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 cancels events major events worldwide

Examination process:

The doctor may examine you and take a swab from inside your nose and mouth which will be sent to a laboratory for Covid-19 testing.

Cost of testing:

Public sector testing is free, according to the government. Private lab testing is also possible through Lancet, Ampath and Pathcare.

We contacted the various labs to find out the cost of testing:

•  Lancet – R990
•  Ampath – R990
•  Pathcare – R995.

Lancet Laboratories offers testing at the following labs in Gauteng:

•  Alberton IPS, 68 Voortrekker Road, New Redruth, Alberton
•  Netcare Mulbarton Hospital, 27 True North Road, Mulbarton
•  46 Rhodes Avenue, Vereeniging
•  Lenmed in hospital, Lenasia South
•  Daxina Medical Centre, Lenasia
•  Krugersdorp Lab, Outpatient Depot, 1 Boshoff Street, Krugersdorp
•  Birchleigh Depot, 7 Leo Street
•  Kempton Square Shopping Centre, shop 61, Kempton Park
•  Leicester depot, Leicester Medical Mews, 7 Leicester Road, Bedfordview Gardens, Germiston
•  Houghton Hotel Depot, 53 2nd Avenue, Houghton Estate
•  62 Orchard Road, Cheltondale
•  Lancet Corner, corner Stanley and Menton roads, Auckland Park
•  Rosebank Lab, 3rd Floor, 8 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank
•  Mediclinic Morningside, 173 Rivonia Road, Morningside, Sandton
•  8 Park Street, Bedfordview, Germiston

Public hospitals treating patients in Gauteng:

•  Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital
•  Steve Biko Academic Hospital
•  Tembisa Hospital.

Do medical aids pay?

Medical scheme members are encouraged to contact their medical schemes on their benefit option entitlements if they experience flu-like symptoms.

Chief executive and registrar of the council for medical schemes Dr Sipho Kabane said, “As the virus progresses, it may result in various complications such as pneumonia and respiratory failure which then should be treated as Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB) level of care. In cases of uncomplicated infection, where there are no PMB-eligible conditions, the medical scheme may fund all health care costs as per scheme rules.

“All medical schemes are required by law to pay for the diagnosis, treatment and care costs of PMB conditions in full, irrespective of plan type or option. They are not allowed to fund PMB conditions from a member’s Medical Savings Account as this is not in line with the PMB Regulations.”

Discovery has indicated that it will pay for testing if the patient tests positive, however, if the test is negative, this must come from the patient’s medical savings.

Momentum has also confirmed that it will cover diagnosis and treatment if members are confirmed COVID-19 cases.

*This story has been updated to reflect the correct pricing of Lancet Laboratories.

Related Articles: 

https://sandtonchronicle.co.za/257204/safety-tips-help-keep-children-safe-covid-19-school-holidays/

https://sandtonchronicle.co.za/256871/cybersecurity-tips-working-home-covid-19-crisis/

Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.

Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).