SHORTAGE OF COVID TEST KITS AND DELAYED TEST RESULTS IMPERIL LIVES IN GAUTENG

1 July 2021

I am concerned by long queues at many Covid-19 public testing centres in Gauteng which have run out of test kits, and the results of the tests that are done can take five days to be released.

This is putting lives at risk as speedy Covid-19 test results inform infected people of the need to isolate themselves to prevent infection of other people as well as seek appropriate treatment.

Some clinics in Johannesburg are only given 12 test swabs a day, which is completely inadequate.

A pop up testing centre at a shopping centre in Eldorado Park attracted many people wanting tests but closed after only two hours.

The other risk with long testing queues is that they can spread infection further, especially the highly infectious Delta variant which is now dominant in Gauteng. Currently, one in three people who go for a test because of symptoms or contact with an infected person are confirmed positive.

It seems that testing capacity in the public sector is limited, so priority is given to testing hospital patients where an accurate diagnosis is critical.

The problem is that there is little purpose in test results that take more than 48 hours.

The shortage of testing kits is yet another example of the inexcusable lack of preparedness for the predicted third wave of infections.

People who suspect they may have the virus and cannot afford a speedy private test should assume that they have it and isolate themselves to avoid infecting others.

The best solution is that the Gauteng Health Department use private laboratories to ensure speedy test results.

Public/private partnerships are the best way to save lives in this terrible epidemic.

Statement by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 1 July 2021