Everyone needs to take definite action to protect the vulnerable and those at high risk of severe COVID-19. By going for quarantine or isolation at one of the facilities offered by the Western Cape Government Health and partners, you can comfortably recover without posing a risk to your loved ones’ health.
“I can only say good things about my stay there,” says Mr Noël Du Plessis after recently returning home after from an isolation facility in the Breede Valley. “I had everything I needed. If I could give every staff member a bunch of money, I would. But all they wanted was for me to get well. This (quarantine/isolation) is about the bigger picture: Keeping your family safe and well.”
Going to a quarantine or isolation facility protects the people in your home who are older than 55 years of age and as those who have a chronic health condition. Anyone can get COVID-19, but older individuals and people with conditions like diabetes and lung diseases can become very sick if they get COVID-19.
Roxanne Minnaar (30) from George says she also used an isolation facility to protect her vulnerable family members. “I have family members at home with chronic conditions like hypertension. Using the Isolation facility was the best decision to protect my family”.
“That place can save lives! It really is the best,” says Mr John Arnoldus, who recovered from COVID-19 at an isolation facility in Drakenstein. “One of my friends was in quarantine at home and he struggled to recover on his own. I told him to contact the people who cared for me – that is the way to get better. The support of the medical staff and the manager there – that pulls you through.”
Arnoldus was initially hesitant to go to the isolation facility, because the perception is that if you go to a facility like this, you will only get sicker and die. “I expected the worst, but I was received so well. Hats off to the staff! They explained to me that as I already have COVID-19, no one at the facility could make me sick.”
Someone who was at the same facility during this time, is Mr Eugene Martinus. He says he thought that perhaps they would be mistreated or given scraps to eat. “But everyting was normal and very neat. I went for the safety of my family,” says Martinus.
As her 97-year-old mom lives with her and her young children at home, Ms Marie Jantjies from Witzenberg made the decision to follow the healthcare workers’ advice to go to the isolation facility so that she can protect her family. Her message to people who test positive is to accept the outcome of the test, to isolate themselves and keep in touch with their family members via the phone. “I was treated very welll. The food was nice – even nicer than at home. I realised I just had to stay positive. I was anxious, but I prayed and tried to relax,” says Ms Jantjies.
It can be a challenge to separate yourself from others if you were in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, if you are awaiting COVID-19 test results or if you have tested positive. If your living circumstances makes it difficult for you to stay separated for up to 14 days or if you share a space with people with underlying chronic conditions, you should use a dedicated quarantine/isolation facility to protect your loved ones.
In the Cape Winelands, Overberg, West Coast, Garden Route, and Central Karoo, there are several safe overnight facilities available for quarantine and isolation. Speak to your healthcare worker about your specific situation and whether you should go to an overnight facility to quarantine or isolate.
What can you expect from a overnight facility for quarantine or isolation?
If you need support to quarantine or isolate, get in touch with the healthcare teams in your area:
Breede Valley subdistrict: Grant Baatjies, 023 348 1340 or Grant.Baatjies@westerncape.gov.za
Drakenstein subdistrict: Patricia van Wyk, 021 877 6513 / 079 418 9067 or Patricia.vanWyk@westerncape.gov.za
Langeberg subdistrict: Megan Williams, 023 626 8548 or Megan.Williams@westerncape.gov.za
Stellenbosch subdistrict: Lawson Eksteen, 021 808 6100 or Lawson.Eksteen@westerncape.gov.za
Witzenberg subdistrict: Lulamile Wawini, 023 316 9600 or Lulamile.Wawini@westerncape.gov.za
WEST COAST
Bergriver subdistrict: Dr Carlo Prins, 022 931 2140 or Carlo.Prins@westerncape.gov.za
Cederberg subdistrict: Dr Petrus van Zyl, 022 921 2153 or vanzylps@gmail.com
Matzikama subdistrict: Dr Meyer Swanepoel, 027 213 2039 or Meyer.Swanepoel@westerncape.gov.za
Saldanha Bay subdistrict: Dr Mauriza Janse van Rensburg 022 709 7201 or maurizavan@yahoo.com
Swartland subdistrict: Dr Anthony Hawkridge, 022 487 9200 or Anthony.Hawkridge@westerncape.gov.za
GARDEN ROUTE AND CENTRAL KAROO
Oudtshoorn subdistrict: Joyce Matyhila, 073 284 9385 or Joyce.Matyhila@westerncape.gov.za
Mossel Bay subdistrict: Maria Manuel, 044 604 6402/072 625 2635 or Maria.Manuel@westerncape.gov.za
Knysna/Bitou subdistrict: Dr Francois Potgieter, 082 891 2519 or Francois.Potgieter@westerncape.gov.za
George subdistrict: Dr Tertius Ackerman 044 814 1124/5 or Tertius.Ackerman@westerncape.gov.za
Hessequa subdistrict: Elizabeth Braaf, 028 713 8640 or Elizabeth.Braaf@westerncape.gov.za
Kannaland subdistrict: Tina-Louise Meiring, 028 551 1010 or Tina-Louise.Meiring@westerncape.gov.za
OVERBERG
Swellendam subdistrict: Dr Jacques du Toit, 028 514 8400 or Jacques.dutoit2@westerncape.gov.za
Cape Aghulhas subdistrict: Johannes Schoevers, 028 424 2654 or johannes.schoevers@westerncape.gov.za
Theewaterskloof subdistrict: 028 212 1070 or Makondelele.rambiyana@westerncape.gov.za
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Sandra Maritz
Communications
Western Cape Government Health
Tel: 023 348 8109
Cell: 071 589 1337
E-mail: Sandra.Maritz@westerncape.gov.za