The provincial Department of Health will be intensifying its Covid-19 community screening and testing programme next week, with health teams working in Bridgetown, Bokmakierie, Rylands and Heideveld.
The screening and testing, which began on Wednesday, will resume next week in the following areas:
*Heideveld and Manenberg on Monday April 20, at the Anglican church, 8 Thames Avenue, Manenberg, from 9am until 2pm.
*Bridgetown on Monday April 20 and Tuesday April 21.
*Bokmakierie on Wednesday April 22 and Thursday April 23
* and Rylands on Friday April 24
Monique Johnstone, Western Cape Health spokesperson for the Klipfontein/Mitchell’s Plain substructure, said: “We are trying to find people who might need help. We need to talk to people to find out whether they need to go for testing so we can refer them for treatment. We will focus specifically on vulnerable people and communities. As part of the Covid-19 screening and testing programme, the Western Cape Health Department will intensify its community screening and testing in the coming weeks.”
Ms Johnstone explained that health teams will go on door-to-door visits and ask a few questions and refer those who need to be tested to the correct site.
She assured the community that the testing is safe, and also asked that people give their correct contact details, so that a health worker can make contact with the results, which usually become available after 48 hours.
Screening can also be done at a primary health care facility, but one should first phone the facility.
There is also a self-assessment risk tool available online at (https://www.westerncape.gov.za/department-of-health/sars-cov-2-risk-assessment-form)
There are also a number of dedicated sites for testing and triage centres where screening can be done.These include Groote Schuur Hospital, Heideveld Emergency Centre, Tygerberg Hospital, New Somerset Hospital and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, among others.
Private clients may be referred by their doctors to private laboratories for testing.
If you have flu-like symptoms, and have come into contact with someone who has the coronavirus, contact the national hotline on 0800 029 999 or the provincial hotline on 021 928 4102 for advice on what to do next. These lines are operational 24/7.