On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said government will in the coming days roll out a large-scale screening, testing drive for Covid-19.
President Ramaphosa said close to 10 000 field workers will be visiting homes in villages, towns and cities to screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms.
This was Ramaphosa’s first address to the nation since declaring a National State of Disaster to combat the pandemic.
The number of COVID-19 deaths in South Africa has risen to three while the number of infections continues to grow as there are now 1 326 confirmed cases.
South Africa therefore has the highest number of cases on the African continent.
President Ramaphosa said mobile technology will be used as well as an extensive tracing system to trace those who have been in contact with confirmed Coronavirus cases and to monitor the geographical location of new cases in real time.
“People with symptoms will be referred to local clinics or mobile clinics for testing. People who are infected with Coronavirus, but who have no or moderate symptoms will remain in isolation at home or at a facility provided by government and those with severe symptoms will be transferred to hospitals,” the President said.