National COVID-19 testing backlog means patients wait up to 10 days for results

Western Cape healthcare workers have reported waiting up to 10 days for COVID-19 test results — and sources in Gauteng say they’re not alone. Delays in results leave many fearing that patients with the new coronavirus virus, who should otherwise be self-quarantining, could unwittingly be exposing others to the virus.

“The delay is not only being experienced in the Western Cape,” says provincial health department spokesperson Nomawethu Sbukwana. “As the Western Cape — and indeed other provinces — ramp up testing, [the National Health Laboratory Services] are finding it challenging to keep up and process these tests, resulting in a nationwide backlog in the results.”….more

South Africa can’t get enough COVID-19 testing supplies. Here’s why we should be making our own

How to fix South Africa’s backlog in COVID-19 tests