THE CITY OF EKURHULENI CLOSES THE DUDUZA CLINIC AFTER NURSE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

On 1 April 2020, the City of Ekurhuleni closed the Duduza Clinic indefinitely after a nurse has tested positive for COVID-19. The facility and the surrounding area will be sanitised during the period of closure to kill any traces of the COVID-19 virus that may have survived on surfaces.

The nurse in question had attended the prayer breakfast at the Divine Restoration Ministries in Ribblesdale, Bloemfontein, on 10 March 2020. The nurse underwent a polymerase chain reaction test for COVID-19 on 30 March 2020, after being identified as a contact of the Bloemfontein gathering. The results returned positive on 31 March 2020 and the nurse has subsequently been placed under quarantine and is currently under medical observation.

Clinical staff who work at the clinic and have displayed symptoms of COVID-19 have been tested and are currently under self-isolation as they await their test results. Staff who have not displayed symptoms have been placed on special leave to self-isolate until further notice. Potential contacts are currently be traced and will be tested for COVID-19 to mitigate against community transmissions.

Two mobile clinics will be deployed to the area to serve the community for the period of the closure. Staff from surrounding clinics will be deployed to the mobile clinics and will be required to wear personal protective equipment and practice stringent hygiene protocols when working with the public.

“We continue to call for calm within our communities as we respond to cases of COVID-19 in and around Ekurhuleni. What is of the utmost importance is that we isolate the virus wherever it rears its ugly head.”

“As a City, we wish our nurse a speedy recovery. It is important that I reiterated that the fastest way to avert community transmissions of COVID-19 is to stay home and adhere to the regulations of the 21-day nation-wide lockdown,” said Executive Mayor Masina.

Executive Mayor Masina will visit and inspect the mobile clinics in Duduza tomorrow, 2 April 2020, at 09:30 am.