Folweni police station on lockdown after officer tests positive for COVID-19

The Folweni Police Station in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, was evacuated and locked down on Thursday 2 April 2020 after an officer tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition, St Augustine’s trauma unit shut down for testing after nurses contracted the coronavirus.

Positive test results

Speaking to TimesLive, National SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo confirmed that the station was closed as a “precautionary measure”. The officer was reportedly admitted to hospital on 23 March.

“A member who was feeling unwell was admitted to St Augustine’s hospital and tested positive for COVID-19. As a precautionary measure the station has been evacuated for sanitisation”.

He emphasised that the station had not shut down and that operations have been moved to a mobile facility. In addition, Brigadier Naidoo confirmed that no other members had been showing any symptoms.

Precautionary measures after COVID-19 diagnosis

Brigadier Naidoo also confirmed that everyone who had come into recent contact with the officer “is currently in self-isolation”, and that the station is observing World Health Organisation protocols. According to the statement:

“On 23 March 2020, a member from Folweni Police Station was admitted in a Durban hospital for an unknown illness. The member was subsequently tested when he started to show signs of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Yesterday his results emerged positive and this was communicated to station management.”

In addition, administration staff who do “generally work on weekends” have been asked to return to work Monday to allow for the “sanitation of the station to be effective”.

Community expresses concern

Members of the community have expressed their concern, with one Twitter users remarking that if “police are infected, we’re all in trouble”. Another pleaded with the community to “keep the Folweni police in prayer.”

“The [lockdown] is here to stay. At least for a few months. Since it has reached townships like Umlazi, KwaMashu, Ntuzuma, Inanda, Folweni and more, there is more reason to extend the 21-day lockdown”.

@nondungu

St Augustine’s trauma unit shut down

In other news, the trauma unit at Durban’s St Augustine Hospital, where the officers mentioned above was admitted in March, temporarily shut down on Friday after six nurses reported tested positive for COVID-19.

Patients were diverted nearby facilities. A doctor who preferred to remain anonymous said it was a precautionary shutdown and told TimesLive: “We are not sure what is happening but we are told there is swabbing of patients and staff.

In a media statement released by Netcare on Friday, Dr Richard Friedland, confirmed that three patients at Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital have tragically passed away from COVID-19. He added:

“This situation prompted Netcare and Netcare St Augustin’s Hospital, in close collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, to take the precautionary decision to test all healthcare and support workers who may have come into contact with the three patients for COVID-19 infection”.