The OFM News team paid a visit to this facility on Wednesday, located at President Steyn Avenue in Westdene.

Nurse Marisa Pretorius was fully dressed in protective gear, including a mask and gloves, and explained the coronavirus sample collection process is available during the week from 07:00 till 18:00 and from 08:00 till 13:00 on weekends. The test will set people back R990 cash, should their medical aid reject the claim. This has been reduced from the initial rate of R1400 that Lancet Laboratories had announced they would charge for private testing. Pretorius says patients are encouraged to pay cash, but they will be able to process credit card transactions via a manual credit card commitment process. 

The Council for Medical Schemes has announced that most medical aids will cover tests for the novel coronavirus. However, most of those medical aids will only fully cover costs, should individuals test positive for the virus. In other words, they will claim it from Medical Savings, should a patient test negative.

Pretorius says after testing is done, the samples are transported to Lancet in Johannesburg for testing. It will take between 48 hours and 72 hours for results to be available after samples reach Johannesburg.

She says on Wednesday they experienced a higher number of people making use of the service, indicating they had just returned from travelling abroad. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to 116 on Wednesday.

South African Airways has cancelled 162 domestic and international flights between 17 March and 31 March 2020. Of these, 38 are international and 124 are regional flights (destinations on the African continent),” says SAA.

This follows after President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday declared the outbreak in the country a national “state of disaster”.

Mangaung Metro Info published this list of places in Central South Africa you can visit to get tested if you suspect you have been infected with the virus:

Free State

Welkom:

Lategan Street 30, St Helena, Welkom
Mon-Fri 8:00-17:00 (057)3521721/(051)4104080 for appointment.

Bloemfontein:

Westdene2 [Drive Through Depot]
President Steyn 66, Westdene, Bloemfontein
Mon-Fri 07:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 08:00-13:00

Northern Cape

Kimberley:

39 Mac Dougall St, El Toro Park, Kimberley, 8301 – Mon-Fri 8:00–17:00
(053)8364460 for an appointment

North West

Rustenburg:

1 Kok Street, (014)5978500; Mon–Fri 07h00–18h00, Sat 08h00-12h00

Potchefstroom:

Cachet Park Depot, Shop 24 Cnr Steve Biko & Meyer Street, Potchefstroom, 253 - Mon–Fri 07:00-16:00, Sat 08:00-13:00

OFM News