LIMPOPO – On Friday, 27 March, there were 1 170 confirmed cases in South Africa and six confirmed cases in Limpopo.
One of the main criteria before you can be tested, is still that a potential positive case must have had contact with another person who tested positive for COVID-19.
“Having symptoms usually associated with the common cold will be the next requirement. It should be noted, however, that we have had a few cases where there were no symptoms shown.”
People who think they meet the criteria must call the COVID-19 hotline or their local hospital where they will be screened for the virus and a specimen will be collected.
“The specimen will be taken to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital for testing, from where the results will be taken to the National Department of Health as the Minister, Zweli Mkhize is the only person authorised to declare cases.”
Should the results come back positive, the patient will either be told to self-quarantine or be taken into a quarantine area or isolation area at the departments institutions based on the severity of the case.
Watch: @thesivu's message to South Africa: "Let's spread facts, not fear. Together, we can beat this."#COVID19SouthAfrica #LockdownSA #CoronavirusSouthAfrica #21daysLockdownSA pic.twitter.com/ZfkkxgXAAA
— Department of Health: COVID-19 (@COVID_19_ZA) March 27, 2020
“A team from the department will immediately be dispatched to start contact tracing as soon as a case is confirmed to be positive. Contacts are classified on a close contact or distant contact basis but will both be explored.” Residents must remember to use the COVID-19 hotline in times of emergency. The hotline number is 0800 029 999.
* 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).
