'There is no time to catch up': Covid-19 test backlog hits 21,904 in Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape is sitting with a huge Covid-19 testing backlog, with 21,904 samples yet to be tested.

This is according to a letter sent to the Eastern Cape health portfolio committee by National Health Laboratory Service Eastern Cape manager Tabita Makula.

“The testing strategy or priorities for Covid-19 testing in the province need to change. This will reduce the number of samples received and improve turnaround time for results. Enforce quarantine of all persons under investigation while awaiting test results to prevent cluster and local transmission;Double the number of personnel in the provincial laboratories which are now analysing tests to speed up results; and“Every day that the health department’s head of department, Dr Thobile Mbengashe, remains in charge, is another day closer to the total collapse of public health in the province,” she said.

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