GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Midland Hospital in Graaff-Reinet is continuing as usual and precautions were put in place after the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) Chairperson, Sindile January, tested positive for Covid-19.
January received his results on 10 July. He decided to go public with his results to warn people about the seriousness of Covid-19.
The chief executive officer of the hospital, Marie de Vos, gave the assurance that all departments of the hospital continue their normal service and deep cleaning take place regularly.
The laundry department where January works consists of three personnel and function as normal.
De Vos said within all the departments of the hospital, including the doctors, pharmacy, nurses and all other staff, there are 204 personnel registered at the hospital.
She said staff on a regular basis test positive and are then put under quarantine for 14 days. "Other staff then stand in for them."
De Vos said the staff that test positive do not necessarily pick up the virus by working with Covid-19 patients, but also after work at other places. She did not want to elaborate on how many staff members had already tested positive but did say it happens on a weekly basis.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) Chairperson, Sindile January.
The Eastern Cape Health Department communications officer, Siyanda Manana, did not respond to an inquiry from the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser on how any health workers have tested positive.
It's not known where January got infected.
January urged that everyone must fight Covid-19 together and said no one invited this virus.
De Vos gave the assurance that everyone who enters the hospital undergoes a Covid-19 pre-screening.
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