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A nurse performs a smear test for Covid-19.
- The Western Cape has expanded its coronavirus testing criteria so that all Cape Metro residents and rural regions with coronavirus symptoms can now be tested for Covid-19.
- In July, the province introduced a risk-adjusted testing strategy in the metropolitan region due to severe testing delays.
- Non-metropolitan areas did not submit to the strategy.
The Western Cape has expanded the coronavirus testing criteria so that all Cape Metro residents and those in rural regions who have coronavirus symptoms can be tested.
According to Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde, the province introduced a “risk-adjusted testing strategy” in the metropolitan region in July due to severe testing delays experienced by the National Health Laboratory Service.
Effectively, it meant that only people in high-risk categories were eligible for testing in public places.
READ | Covid-19 testing: this is why those under 55 with no comorbidities will not be screened in Cape Town
“This was to ensure that testing focused on those who were most at risk,” Winde said.
However, amid a decline in cases, the criteria have been changed so that anyone experiencing symptoms can get tested in public places.
The new testing criteria include:
- all people with symptoms of coronavirus;
- testing asymptomatic patients awaiting surgery;
- natural deaths of people who had coronavirus symptoms;
- Healthcare workers who previously tested positive but developed new symptoms (90 days after their first test).
“In September, the tests were further expanded to include preoperative (asymptomatic) patients, natural deaths at home, as well as essential symptomatic public sector workers, prisoners, students and school personnel and workers in the workplace,” he added Winde.
He said that throughout this, the labs managed.
Therefore, it was decided to extend the tests.
Non-metropolitan areas were not subject to the risk-adjusted testing strategy and testing for all symptomatic individuals has continued throughout.
“There are no reliable tools to help us predict the likelihood, location or timing of a Covid-19 resurgence, and ongoing surveillance is key to helping us identify and understand emerging trends.”
Winde said the expanded testing criteria would allow them to track and manage infections in the province more accurately.
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