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The South African government has deployed mass testing for the coronavirus. This is part of governmental efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
At a testing centre in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, Executive Mayor of the city Geoffrey Makhubo stated that he and other government officials would be overseeing the various testing sites as well as encouraging healthcare workers.
Here’s how the process at these testing facilities works:
What happens when you arrive at a Covid-19 testing facility?
- As you enter the gate, your hands are sanitized and your temperature is tested by a healthcare worker.
- A nurse will then ask questions to screen you. These questions are to see if you are displaying any of the coronavirus symptoms. For example, “Do you have any upper respiratory problems?”, “Are you experiencing any sweating or fever?”, “Do you have a cough?” etc.
- If you answer yes to one or more of the questions above, you are then transferred to the test clinic, which is a bigger clinic. Here, the nurses will open a file for you in order to keep a record of your details. Subsequent to that, they will ask you to complete a screening form where they ask you about your health history to see if you suffer from any illnesses, particularly ones that affect the respiratory system, like asthma. The last step is the physical examination.
- Next, your vital signs are checked by a nurse to keep record of your temperature, blood pressure and the oxygen level in your bloodstream.
- If the healthcare workers think you need to undergo testing after taking your vitals, you are then sent to the testing station where a throat swab is taken.
- Your test results will be available within two days.
Geoffrey Makhubo states that the testing kits used at the testing facilities are safe and not contaminated. He encourages the public to come to the clinics so that they can get tested for Covid-19. Johannesburg MMC of Health and Social Development, Eunice Mgcina, says there are 21 provincial clinics that are used as testing sites. She adds that within the next few weeks, the plan is to make all clinics available for testing. An outreach programme will also be launched within the next week, where healthcare professionals will promote testing at clinics, as well as go into communities to conduct testing.
