Experts call for streamlining and rationalising of testing

As the country moves towards a district-based approach to the Covid-19 coronavirus response – which will see districts being differentiated by the average of active cases per week per 100 000 people and will determine the level of lockdown assigned to them – experts are calling for a streamlining and rationalising of testing.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said this week that under this approach the number of cases would be monitored and the National Coronavirus Command Council would review the level of lockdown per district every two weeks.

However, with the critical global shortage of tests kits and reagents needed for the diagnosis of Covid-19, which has impacted South Africa’s Covid-19 response strategy, experts have argued that there is a need to change tack in testing strategy.