MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Home screening and testing for Covid-19 started in KwaNonqaba on Monday, 6 April.
Screening was conducted door-to-door by trained field workers using simple verbal questions to identify people who may require testing.
The field workers and health care workers are accompanied by members of the police while they go about their visits in KwaNonqaba. For the rest of the week health workers will go home to home to ask residents health questions aimed at screening for symptoms, for example a sore throat, a cough or fever. Fieldworkers bore ID tags and identifiable clothing.
"We want to thank the community of KwaNonqaba for receiving our teams. Thanks to the community's cooperation, we managed to visited and screen quite a few homes. With the community's help, we can stop the spread of the Coronavirus," Western Cape Health Department spokesperson, Nadia Ferreira told the Mossel Bay Advertiser on Tuesday, 7 April following the second day of screening.
Testing
Testing for Covid-19 is done if the result of questions asked indicate that the person require a further test. The health worker will refer the resident to the closest testing centre. Test results will not be immediately available, but patients will be followed up and advised of their status.
The community is required to welcome health workers doing the screening and to answer the questions truthfully
Stop the virus
Remember the golden rules:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water,
- Keep surfaces clean,
- Do not touch your face
- Cough sneeze in your elbow fold
- Keep 1,5m away from people
- Stay at home
- Please co-operate fully and support family for testing
What communities should do
- Please encourage people to be screened and tested
- Look out for health workers who have official dentification and branded clothing
- Please support our health workers and keep them safe
- Please help to keep communities clean and encourage good behaviour
- Don’t be afraid of testing or potential sick people.
- Please support the elderly and children
Where to get help
- Your local NGO or health worker
- Call numbers:
• National Hotline: 0800 029 999
• Provincial hotline: 021 928 4102
• WhatsApp “hi” to 0600 123 456
All lines are operational 24/7 - Your closest clinic
Gemeenskapsgesondheidswerkers, SAPS en ‘n verpleegster wat die toetsing doen, maak deel uit van die span.
Healthcare workers on the first day of screening working their way from door to door in Adriaans Avenue. Photo: Jannie du Plessis
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Related article: Covid-19 screening underway in Mossel Bay
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