The Eastern Cape Health Department said it was intensifying its efforts to arrest the spread of the coronavirus after the province recorded its fifth death related to covid19.
Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba, said a team of 18 health professionals was dispatched to New Payne in Mthatha where 16 direct contacts of the deceased were immediately screened and tested on Friday.
“Those tested include eight family members, neighbours, funeral parlour workers, a private doctor as well as a private nurse,” she said, as the number of confirmed infections rose to 246.
The tracing and testing teams went door-to-door in New Payne, ensuring that all those who may have also come into contact with the deceased 79-year-old were screened and tested.
The MEC also confirmed that after screening and testing was done in Majola Village in Port St Johns, where six people had tested positive after attending a funeral, two more people have tested positive.
“A total of 269 people in Majola were screened and 198 tested. One person who tested positive has been admitted to hospital for further treatment,” MEC Gomba said.
On Monday officials will be dispatched to Ndibela Village near Mthatha to screen and test people who attended a funeral a few weeks ago.
The Department also provided the following breakdown of the 246 confirmed cases in the Eastern Cape per district:
° Buffalo City Metro - 101 (0 confirmed deaths);
° Nelson Mandela Bay Metro 95 (3);
° Chris Hani District 24 (0);
° Sarah Bartmaan District 12 (0);
° OR Tambo District 10 (1);
° Amathole District 4 (1)
° Alfred Nzo District 0
° Joe Gqabi District 0
