South Africa has received a very limited stock of flu vaccines this year so it’s being prioritized for health care workers and high risk patients. We have managed to acquire a very limited number of these vaccines for our high risk patients (asthmatics, chronic lung disease, elderly, pregnancy).
Please contact Blouberg Family Practice on 021 023 0480 to make an appointment.
The NICD and the Department of Health have revised and updated the Guideline-based definition of a Person Under Investigation (PUI) who qualify for testing for COVID-19.
Within this new definition, patients ONLY have to present with ONE of the Symptoms of COVID-19 to be eligible for testing i.e. Persons with acute respiratory illness with sudden onset of at least one of the following: cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or fever [≥ 38°C (measured) or history of fever (subjective)] irrespective of admission status.
There are no longer requirements for a contact or travel history as the spread of COVID continues through communities, however, individuals with a travel or contact history are still considered to be at high risk of infection. Asymptomatic patients will not be tested, as the PCR test may be negative prior to symptom development. Asymptomatic patients with history of exposure should still self-isolate for 14 days.
PLEASE NOTE: EVERY PERSON PRESENTING FOR TESTING WILL STILL REQUIRE THE NICD PUI AND CONTACT TRACING FORMS. THIS IS A COMPULSORY REQUIREMENT.
NICD is no longer offering free testing to private patients. Western Cape patients who would like to make use of the free state testing facilities need to contact their closest NHLS (National Health Laboratory Service) facility at either Groote Schuur or Tygerberg Hospitals.
Groote schuur hospital: (021) 404 5201/5116: 7:30am – 17:00pm: Monday-Friday
Tygerberg Hospital: (021) 938 9354/9355: 6:30am – 19:00pm: 7 days a week
