Cape Town – A courier company has paid the price for hundreds of Covid-19 test kit specimens being found next to the N2 at Mdantsane near East London, Eastern Cape. he kits were discovered by a jogger last week, who didn't touch them and opened them with his running shoes. The tests were on their way from surrounding hospitals to a laboratory in Port Elizabeth.
What made matters worse is that the testing kits, which are imported from overseas, are in short supply. The Eastern Cape has the third-highest number of Covid-19 cases, with 30 603, and its death toll of 451 is surpassed only by the Western Cape. “At a time when our country is dealing with a state of disaster due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these actions are reprehensible and the NHLS has taken swift action to terminate the services of the company.”NHLS Eastern Cape regional manager Tabita Makula said: “We are grateful to our other courier suppliers for stepping into the gap and assisting us at short notice.
"These specimens have identity numbers and contact details of individuals. The courier company that was contracted must be traced and provide answers as to what happened to get to the bottom of this situation.