Health
Following reports of COVID-19 positive cases at various workplaces in the Cape Town metropolitan area:
- Whether her Department is aware of the positive case or cases at the Fibremill factory in Atlantis;
- (a) what is the capacity of isolation facilities in Atlantis and (b) what is the latest occupation or use status of these facilities;
- (a) whether the clinic and healthcare workers in Atlantis were made aware of these facilities and (b) are they offering these facilities to every person who tests positive or needs to be isolates; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether the Fibremill factory in Atlantis had been sanitised prior to workers returning to work; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether her Department is aware of a COVID-19 positive case at the De Novo Rehabilitation Centre in Kraaifontein; if so, what are the relevant details;
- (a) why were the staff and patients at the centre not informed of the first positive case and (b)(i) what screening and testing support was offered to the other staff and patients following the first positive case and (ii) how long after the first positive case was the support provided;
- whether all the staff and patients were traced and offered public isolation facilities; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether her Department is aware of a COVID-19 positive case at the offices of the SAPS’s Forensic Services in Cape Town; if so, (a) what contact tracing has been undertaken, (b) what isolation protocols have been implemented and (c) why have the remaining staff members been required to return to work and not be isolated?
1The Department has not been engaged by Fibremill around a positive case.
2[a] The designated facility in the Southern Western Subdistrict can accommodate 204 persons. Currently, there are 180 people in isolation and 17 in quarantine.
[b] Currently, there are 180 people in isolation and 17 in quarantine.
3The Department informs and offers quarantine and isolation to everyone who tests positive or who is a close contact of someone who tested positive. This service is taken up on a voluntary basis.
4Although the Department has not been engaged by Fibremill on a positive case, the Department has made available guidelines to all sectors around the management of COVID-19 in the workplace which includes decontamination of the affected area and screening of staff.
5 The Department was informed of a positive case [a resident] at the facility and followed standard contact tracing procedure and isolation/quarantine assistance. Screening and testing of all close contacts were done upon which four more positive cases [staff]were identified. The resident was then placed in isolation at the facility while the four staff members went into isolation at home.
6 The Department respects all individuals’ rights and have contacted all those deemed to be a close contact as soon as it was confirmed that there was a positive case. Close contacts are screened and advised to isolate or quarantine at home or in a designated facility.
7 Yes. The Department informs and offers quarantine and isolation to everyone who tests positive or who is a close contact of someone who tested positive. This service is taken up on a voluntary basis.
- 8. [a] The Department’s contact tracing teams collects a list of contacts who the person came into contact with. Each individual is contacted and advised to quarantine and provided with the necessary and relevant information on managing their conditions.
- The Department informs and offers quarantine and isolation to everyone who tests positive or who is a close contact of someone who tested positive. This service is taken up on a voluntary basis.
- The Department made available guidelines to all sectors around the management of COVID-19 in the workplace which includes decontamination of the affected area and screening of staff.
