TENS of thousands of people are homeless on the streets of South Africa, and generally lack access to safe shelter, water and ablution facilities, income and psycho-social support networks.
Therefore, social distancing and quarantine are luxuries they do not have, says the National Homeless Network.
The network said those most at risk of Covid-19 are people aged over 60 or people with compromised immune systems, people with lung disease such as asthma and TB, people with compromised living conditions or diet, and people who have underlying health problems.
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Many of the people who live on the street check many of these boxes, making prevention and support for the homeless population in the nation essential.
In light of the recent announcement of a national lockdown, the network has appealed to the president to ensure that homeless people are included in the response plan dealing with Covid-19.
Network, secretary, Wayne Renkin, said they welcomed the presidents assurance that temporary shelters that meet the necessary hygiene standards will be identified for homeless people during the 21-day lockdown, however, they were concerned as to how this would be practically be achieved by midnight on 26 March.
He said members of the network were keen to provide expertise in advising and assisting in any way they can, however, as part of the essential planning process, there were questions that first needed to be answered.
These included who would lead the setting up and running of temporary accommodation for homeless people, how local forums and NGOs already working with homeless people would be engaged in this process, how buildings for temporary accommodation would be identified and who would prepare them for use.
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Other questions raised included who would manage the temporary accommodation for the homeless during the lockdown and how food, support and security services would be provided; whether those who were providing services to homeless people would be counted as essential personnel during the lockdown, and if they be would allowed to continue providing services.
“We questioned whether the homeless would be forced to go into the identified buildings, and what would happen if they refused; how shelters would accommodate someone who becomes sick, and, given that a good number of homeless people are substance users and will therefore suffer from forced withdrawal, what measures would be taken to help them. We also want to know how homeless people are going to be informed about the lockdown and that temporary accommodation is available,” he said.
Locally, Raymond Perrier, director of the Denis Hurley Centre, said at the clinic run at Dalton Hostel, staff needed to continue to triage their patients as they already do.
“For almost all of them coronavirus is not their most pressing health issue at this stage and we need to continue to deal with the other issues. We are very unlikely at this stage to have any cases but our staff are on the lookout and aware of the factors,” he said.
Perrier said health workers were encouraged to repeatedly wash their hands, tissues were provided for anyone who was sneezing and hand sanitiser was provided for staff.
He said masks would not be encouraged since they were not effective for people who were not used to them, but they would be used by health workers in particular circumstances.
“We have encouraged people living at Dalton to use the washing facilities that are there, but it is hard to see how they would self-isolate,” said Perrier.
EThekwini Municipality’s response
AT hostels in and around Durban, the municipality said it will be providing hand sanitisers which will be installed in bathrooms and at access points. These will be regularly filled by cleaning staff. There will be ongoing sanitation and cleaning of facilities to ensure hygiene for occupants.
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