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COVID Series
COVID-19 response in South African communities: Screening, testing, tracing and movement modelling
Abstract
In South Africa (SA), the first case of COVID-19 was reported on 5 March 2020 from a traveller who had returned from Italy. Increases in COVID-19 cases and deaths necessitated the design and implementation of community screening, testing, and tracing as a control strategy. The SA government’s plans to implement community-based screening, testing, contact tracing and movement modelling during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic presented both opportunities and challenges. In this article, we present our experiences, opportunities and lessons for community-based COVID-19 response, anchoring these efforts in the primary healthcare system.
Authors' affiliations
M Modisenyane, South African National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa
L Madikezela, South African National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa
S Mngemane, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Pretoria, South Africa
O P Ramadan, World Health Organization, Nairobi, Kenya
M Matlala, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Pretoria, South Africa
K McCarthy, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa
N Govender, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa
T Nemungadi, South African National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa
S P Silal, Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA), Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Oxford University, UK
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Article History
Date published: 2022-05-31
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