Durban Townships call on government to fast track mobile COVID-19 testing

Community members of three of Durban’s largest townships have called on government to fast track the introduction of mobile testing for COVID-19.

KwaMashu, Inanda and Umlazi are said to now have a number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus with one recorded death.

These areas have been earmarked for mass screening.

These townships are home to thousands of residents, with almost 70% of them living below the poverty line.

These townships also have the highest number of people with chronic illnesses which puts them at risk of being infected with COVID-19.

In the video below, mobile COVID-19 testing and screening units are deployed nationwide. 

Meanwhile, Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital near Durban has been closed after eleven of its nurses tested positive for the coronavirus.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala along with Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu earlier addressed the media in Durban.

This followed a meeting of the provincial government’s command team responsible for dealing with COVID-19.

The hospital is the same one at which a primary school teacher in Isipingo, south of Durban, died after testing positive for the virus.