Gauteng experiencing ‘serious’ coronavirus test result backlog
Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku has warned that the province is experiencing a severe delay in the issuing of coronavirus test results.
The provincial government briefed the media on the implementation of the 21-day lockdown in Johannesburg on Sunday.
READ: Lockdown necessary to stop coronavirus spreading, says Ramaphosa
Masuku confirmed that there are 15 people receiving treatment of the deadly virus in Gauteng.
“We only have 15 patients in hospital, six in public hospitals and nine in private and these are patients who are having mild symptoms. We only have one patient in ICU.
“Its important to indicate that we had five patients in ICU and now we are only left with one… From the report from clinicians (the patient) is improving and she might be released in due course.”
Masuku said more frequent test results will allow the province to sketch an accurate picture of the prevalence of coronavirus.
“We also need to indicate that we are having a serious backlog on the test results particulary from the private laboratories but surely we are catching up so we can be able to be almost up to date nationally and also in the province.”
There are currently 584 cases of COVID-19 in Gauteng and 1280 confirmed cases nationally.