TWO Covid-19 asymptomatic patients are stranded after
Elangeni Training Centre in Bulawayo, which was initially identified as an
isolation centre was closed, it has been learnt.
The two have now opted to self-isolate at home while the
Bulawayo City Health Department is frantically working to identify an
alternative isolation centre. Asymptomatic patients are those that have tested
positive but are showing no symptoms.
Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni in his weekly
Covid-19 city update revealed that Elangeni had since been closed as an
isolation centre for asymptomatic patients, a development that has created a
crisis in case management in the city.
The other facilities which may be used as isolation centres
but mainly for symptomatic patients are Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital
and Ekusileni Medical Centre.
Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital is still undergoing
renovations while efforts are being made to raise funds that would see the
eventual re-opening of Ekusileni Medical Centre. The city has five active
Covid-19 cases with nine recoveries and one death.
“For the first 12 cases, a total of 668 contacts were
followed up, of which 610 (91 percent) have completed the 21-day follow-up
period. The Gene Xpert platform is being capacitated. At least 1 234 specimens
have been sent to the laboratory for real time-polymerase chain reaction
(RT-PCR) testing and 1 166 (95 percent) processed and only 68 results were
pending.
“The city had nine new recoveries that is, they have had at
least two RT-PCR respiratory specimens testing negative. Two cases are
asymptomatic and the city is in the process of identifying an isolation
facility for these cases.
“With Elangeni isolation/quarantine being deactivated for
positive but not ill cases means there is an urgent need for the identification
of a new isolation centre for asymptomatic cases,” said Clr Mguni.
The mayor said the city was experiencing a limited ability
to continue testing, with delays in receiving results hence the need to
capacitate more laboratories to test for Covid-19 using PCR or GeneXpert.
“There is also inadequate human resources in the city,
should the cases increase in numbers and for testing, which is why there is a
need to expedite secondment of 15 nurses and laboratory staff to BCC.
“The Rapid Response Teams (RRT) have been active since
February 2020 and have been following up rumours of possible suspected cases of
Covid-19 and presently have followed up more than 355 cases.
“They have submitted specimens from 1 234 people that fit
the case definition to laboratories for tests to detect the virus,” he said.
Clr Mguni revealed that to date the number of travellers
that came into Bulawayo to their homes was 2 764, of which 2 726 travellers had
since been followed up by RRT teams in Bulawayo.
He said of the 2 764 travellers 874 were returnees from
outside the country who passed through Bulawayo Polytechnic College (422) and
the United College of Education (452).
“In Health Surveillance the implementation of protective
factors to reduce the general risk of transmission is ongoing.
“These include activities such as active case finding,
intensified shop inspections, health education on key messages that include
self-isolation, social distancing, and hygiene practices; with special emphasis
on the importance of staying at home.
“Shops in the Central Business District are still being
monitored to encourage social distancing among customers, checking if
sanitisers or that hand washing facilities are available at entry points as
well as to educate on the risks of contracting Covid-19,” said Clr Mguni.
Relating to the rehabilitation works at Thorngrove and
Ekusileni hospitals, Clr Mguni said council was still working at the sites with
the outstanding works at Thorngrove including the electrifications to light
internal roads and walkways, extension of the laundry, among other aspects.
Sunday News
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