In our response to Government’s call for mass screening, testing of those that show signs and symptoms of Covid-19, and tracing contacts of any positive patients, in the Northern Cape, the MEC for Health, Ms. Mase Manopole is pleased with the progress being made.
To date, the province had screened over 388 076 people for Covid-19. This consists of 21 574 in John Taolo Gaetsewe District, 53 052 in Namakwa District, 39 663 in ZF Mgcawu District, 56 329 in Frances Baard District and 217 458 in Pixley ka Seme District. This screening took the form of screening of people at health facilities and roadblock during the first few weeks and has now progressed to a mass screening programme in the community, in all districts.

The reason for taking a swab sample and sending it for laboratory testing is set out in clinical guidelines issues by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), based on best practice issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
These criteria include anyone with acute respiratory illness with either a cough, a sore throat, shortness of breath, or a raised temperature (fever). The criteria also include anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 or who has travelled to an area or country with local transmission of COVID-19.

Even with these criteria issued by NICD, if any clinician has any suspicions that it could be COVID-19, they are empowered to take a swab sample for laboratory testing or ring the NICD clinical Hotline for further advice. Our clinicians, both public and private, will take swab samples from anyone who meets the guidelines issued by NICD or where the doctor or nurse has suspicions.
The province has sent over 895 swab samples for laboratory testing by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). These laboratory tests have currently resulted in a total of 16 Covid-19 positive cases being identified in the Northern Cape – these are described below. It should be noted that none of these cases have needed hospitalisation, including ventilation and no one in the province has died. The MEC is also very pleased to announce that so far no health worker in the Department has been infected with Covid-19. This is despite the many challenges faced across the country (indeed, the world), obtaining all the personal protective equipment (PPE) that we might desire.

Currently 6 of the 16 people are deemed fully recovered, and this will increase over the coming days as people reach the isolation deadline since symptoms subsided. The 16 cases in the province are made up as follows:
• John Taolo Gaetsewe District currently has no positive cases.
• Namakwa District currently has a family of 3 cases who became infected after travelling in the Western Cape.
• Pixley ka Seme District also has 1 positive case who became infected when travelling in the Western Cape.
• ZF Mgcawu District currently has 1 positive case who became infected when travelling in the United Kingdom.
• Frances Baard District currently has 11 positive cases: Two cases were acquired by a couple who travelled to Free State and this resulted in local transfers. Separate from this are two people, who participated in a golf tournament with people from the Western Cape and Free State. Lastly, there was a journalist who became infected through visitors from Germany.
From this analysis it can be seen that all infections with COVID-19 in the Northern Cape originated outside of the country or in another province with high prevalence of COVID-19, with the exception of local transmission to the six cases in Frances Baard District who were relatives, family friends or an employee of infected people.

There is no evidence that there are cohorts of infected people in the province, where the virus is lurking and waiting to infect other people. The important issue is for strong vigilance amongst our clinicians and our community members to identify anyone showing signs or symptoms, and to take swab sample of those who show these. It is also important not to overwhelm the hospitals and laboratory services with people who show no signs or symptom – if we do this we run the risk of overloading the system so that those who really need testing do not get the results back quickly enough. This is a very fine balance and we are confident that our communities understand this.
The kit for taking swab samples are supplied by the laboratory service providers. We recently had 100 000 additional swab kits delivered to the Northern Cape National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). There is no shortage of swab kits in the province and we continue to take swabs from everyone who meets the guidance set by NICD.

As a Province, we have a total of 886 beds readily available at our quarantine sites to accommodate any cases under investigation for COVID-19 who are not able to self-quarantine at home. This number will be increased to 1360 in due course.
MEC Manopole aligned herself with the recommendation for the use of fabric masks by all members of the community and for surgical and respirator masks to be reserved for the sole use of those working in a clinical environment. These masks will minimise any infective materials being expelled in droplets when speaking, coughing or sneezing, including Covid-19.

For enquiries, contact: 
Mr Lebogang Majaha
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Health
Northern Cape Province
071 8836 404
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