DA welcomes wider testing in Gauteng

6 May 2020

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the ramping up of Covid-19 testing in Gauteng, including the most vulnerable groups and those who do not have symptoms.

This is important as it is thought that more than 50% of those who are infected are ‘silent spreaders’ as they are asymptomatic.

Previously the tests were mainly done on people who exhibited flu-like symptoms, had a history of travel or had been in contact with someone who was confirmed positive.

These narrow criteria should have been expanded earlier as it resulted, for instance, in only 19 tests conducted out of 262 000 people screened in Tshwane.

The DA also welcomes the plan to test at potential virus hotpots such as hospitals, taxis, supermarkets, hostels and informal settlements.

It’s a simple fact that the more tests are done, the more cases will be found. There will therefore be a false picture if cases are low because tests are low, which is why the Gauteng Health Department should release the number of tests conducted every day along with the latest tally of Covid-19 cases.

We can only stay ahead of the curve by being proactive and detecting infection hotpots in time to take action to prevent further spread.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 6 May 2020