Covid-19: Limpopo Health MEC wants stricter measures for those who are self-isolating
Limpopo Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba, says she is not confident that those who have tested positive for coronavirus have the discipline to self-isolate.
The Limpopo Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba, has called for stricter measures for those who are self-isolating after a man who tested positive for the coronavirus, travelled from Gauteng to Limpopo.
Ramathuba said during an interview on SABC on 28 March that they had to engage with the police to have the man arrested. “We are thinking of saying that anyone who has tested positive, whether you are symptomatic or asymptomatic, let’s not give you that option of isolation because we have seen that our people are not disciplined enough to protect the vulnerable.”
She said that they can still isolate the cases they have at the moment at Modimolle MDR hospital. The hospital has 62 beds which would be able to accommodate those with the virus in the province (as of 29 March, there are 12 confirmed cases in Limpopo).
“People would be comfortable there and we would be able to protect the majority. The reality is that our people on the ground are at serious risk when we think about what could have happened.”
This is the first case in the province where someone has been put into forced isolation. “I’m saying to the people of Limpopo… the only way we can beat this virus is if we go toward compulsory screening for any suspect and compulsory quarantining for those who we have tested while waiting for results and compulsory isolation.”
“You are going to see us being very harsh, we are going to be unpopular but we have to do it because it’s the right thing to do for the majority.”
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