Compulsory testing soon in Limpopo’s densely-populated areas
During a media feedback session yesterday by the Limpopo Provincial Command, Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha announced that local government will target various congested areas in the province that will serve as testing points.
LIMPOPO – Compulsory Covid-19 testing will be rolled out in Limpopo as soon as Monday, 6 April.
During a media feedback session yesterday by the Limpopo Provincial Command, Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha announced that local government will target various congested areas in the province that will serve as testing points.
The premier, alongside Members of the Executive Council, mayors and invited heads of department gathered at the Capricorn Municipality Chambers yesterday to reflect on provincial assessments witnessed over the last few days.
During the session, Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba said the department noted a general decline in patient numbers at health centres and would from Monday use the extra manpower to conduct Covid-19 tests in congested areas. In this regard, the department launched a recruitment drive with posts to be filled immediately.
“We currently have 310 professional nurses available to conduct testing. They will, during testing, have identification from the Nursing Council, so patients can identify them,” the MEC added.
She furthermore explained the test procedure.
“Screening will be done followed by a rapid test. Should this test positive, a throat swab will have to be taken. We specifically developed this rapid test because we are looking at testing large numbers of people.”
The MEC announced that a decision was taken that Covid-19 patients in the province will no longer be allowed to self-isolate, but instead will be taken to the MDR centre in Modimolle, one of the provincial isolation hubs.
By Wednesday evening, the National Department of Health announced that the number of Covid-positive cases in the province now stands at 14.
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