Kubayi: Looters in KZN, Gauteng must go screen for Covid-19

This amid fears that the large groups of people present during last week's violence and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng could lead to an increase in coronavirus infections.

Kubayi made the remarks on Tuesday morning at the Johannesburg Correctional Services facilities, where the Department of Correctional Services launched its vaccination campaign. 

"One of the appeals I would like to make is, but I am saying to those who were present at the protest, please present yourself to health facilities for screening because the likelihood is that you are a carrier of the virus. I know some of them are scared that they will be arrested as they get to the facilities, but from a health point of view, we really urge them to arrive.

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"We have an obligation as a health sector that when they arrive, they don't have to disclose a lot of information because we don't want to test them. If you find yourself having flu symptoms or a headache, please don't stay at home and infect everybody else. Can you kindly present yourself and go and test because we are worried about the impact the people who were in the protest will have on their communities that they interact with."

Last week, thousands of South Africans took to the streets in the two provinces in what was the biggest wave of civil unrest since the advent of democracy. 

This has sparked fears of increased Covid-19 cases, just as Gauteng is emerging from a Covid-19 third wave.