Gauteng scrambling to resolve Covid-19 testing backlog
The Gauteng Department of Health has vowed to resolve the backlog in testing and screening by the end of the week.
Health MEC Bandile Masuku says there is more than 30 000 tests that have not been concluded.
The province has been struggling with a severe backlog since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Masuku says more frequent test results will allow the province to sketch an accurate picture of the prevalence of coronavirus.
“The bulk of the testing we have done is contributed by our community testing and screening where we were focusing in our hotspots.
“We are going to close off that backlog by the end of this current week and by next week when we report to you, we won’t have a backlog and we’ll be reporting on the current values that we have.”
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Gauteng now has 26 156 cumulative cases – the second highest in the country.
Nationally, there are 111 796 cumulative cases.
Masuku admits he’s concerned about the slowed recovery rate.
“We need to play a role in making sure that the communities themselves they take an interest that these numbers don’t go up and they contribute to the recoveries.”
The provincial command council gave an update on the latest Covid-19 developments on Thursday.
#COVID19 | GAUTENG COVID-19 SUB-DISTRICT BREAKDOWN
— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) June 25, 2020
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Gauteng is 26 165, with 6 627 recoveries as at 24 June 2020. #GAUTENGCOVID19 #COVID19SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/Z6Yz5Svvge