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By Okuhle Hlati 
1h ago
The secretary of the SA (Samwu) Municipal Workers Union, Xolani Diniso, said the union received a report on Sunday that the clinic employee had tested positive and that operations continued normally.
“This morning (yesterday) the staff heard about the case and refused to work even though management was telling them to do so. We encourage staff to continue refusing to work and go home, because management was risking not only their lives but that of the community.
“We are not happy with the way the situation has been handled,” Diniso said.
City spokeswoman Priya Reddy said the clinic was thoroughly cleaned on Sunday according to health and safety protocols.
“Most of the staff claimed to have been in close contact with this staff member and to have been examined and sent to their quarantined homes until the results are available.
“Two doctors were not evaluated since they had not had close contact with the case. They have continued to work, along with two cleaners who had had little exposure.
“City Health is in the process of acquiring alternate personnel to provide on-site services until further notice. City protocol dictates that staff members must return to work as soon as it is safe,” said Reddy.
The 30 paramedics at Khayelitsha District Hospital continued their strike yesterday from the weekend due to the impossibility of reaching an agreement on PPE.
The secretary of the National Union of Education, Health and Allied Workers, Eric Kweleta, said: “The talks with the department did not go well. They still rejected our demand for A40 (monkeys), which will guarantee the safety of our members.
“They prefer to keep it in their warehouse. They told us they will only use it for paramedics when they send them to a Covid-19 case.”
“Our argument is that in some cases, they will respond to a call from someone who is ill, but they will not know if they have the virus. In another district, two paramedics tested positive, so we cannot encourage our members to return to work. We will try again. Sort this out “.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokeswoman Deanna Bessick said paramedics were issued the correct PPE according to their departmental guidelines.
Winelands and Helderberg paramedics had to be called on Saturday morning to assist and serve the Khayelitsha compound when paramedics downed tools.
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