Massive Covid-19 testing campaign launched in Alex
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has launched a massive coronavirus testing campaign in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg.
The campaign, launched on Tuesday, will also see the capturing of Gauteng residents’ details for a national tracking database.
Makhura and Health MEC Bandile Masuku joined a team of health workers in Stjwetla informal settlement in Alexandra.
The campaign comes after Alex recorded its first case of Covid-19.
The person who tested positive was traced and found in Limpopo, while five others have been placed under quarantine.
Makhura says while the campaign will eventually be rolled out in 69 sites across the province, the population density in informal settlements prompted the provincial government will start the campaign in those communities.
Watch: The community of Stjwetla has been listening to the calls by the President. We are pleased with the response, they understand the importance of getting tested for #COVID19. As today marked the first day of the massive testing, the co-operation is commendable. pic.twitter.com/HpQQ3p9nF7
— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) March 31, 2020
“We are rolling this out to different parts, and I am very happy that the community here is looking forward to testing. We need members of our community to know that testing help us to be able to combat this dangerous disease.”
Gauteng had 618 confirmed cases on Tuesday.
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This comes a mere 24 hours after a coronavirus case was confirmed in Khayelitsha township in the Western Cape. In a statement, the department says the confirmed case was tested and instructed to remain under self-isolation while awaiting results. "Upon positive confirmation of results, our team of tracers working with law enforcement agencies tracked the confirmed case to Limpopo.