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.
10.7196/samj.2022.v112i5b.16072
Journal article
South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
05/2022
112
366 - 370
South African National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa.
Humans, Contact Tracing, South Africa, Pandemics, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2