The content on this page is a summary of information from various sources and does not constitute medical or other professional opinion. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised medical advice or if you require more information.
COVID-19
DON’T PANIC, PREVENT
Protecting yourself from the COVID-19
In March 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic. Since then, the coronavirus has swept the globe, infecting millions of people. For statistics on COVID-19 spread in South Africa and related government information, click here. View the latest global dashboard here.
Telephone:
0860 100 545 or 011 707 8400
Fax:
0861 113 676
Chronic Medication:
0861 700 600 Option 3
E-mail:
Claim submission:
Emergency number:
082 911
Stress Line
Telephone:
0861 700 600 (choose option 4)
E-mail:
Dedicated COVID-19 Information channels
E-mail:
Webchat: (8h00-15h00 Weekdays):
Frequently asked Questions
How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
COVID-19 is diagnosed by a laboratory test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular test, on a respiratory tract sample (e.g. sample from nose, throat or chest).
What must I do if I believe that I have been exposed to the coronavirus?
If you believe that you have been exposed to the coronavirus or you are displaying symptoms of fever, tight chest, coughing, sore throat, muscle aches or other flu-like symptoms, please avoid contact with other people and contact your healthcare practitioner telephonically to ask how to be tested.
Your healthcare practitioner will advise you what to do next to get the care that you need.
Click here to see the correct process to follow.
If you cannot access your healthcare practitioner telephonically, contact the COVID-19 Public Hotline 0800 029 999, for further instructions.
Please be aware and respect each facilities’ prevention protection measures. Click here to read about the Netcare Group’s prevention measures and what you should do when visiting their facilities.
Who is at higher risk of COVID-19 infection?
While anyone can get COVID-19, some groups of people are at more at risk than others and are most vulnerable to getting very sick from the virus. These include:
- Older persons
- People with a weakened immune system, including pregnant women
- People with underlying chronic conditions like:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory illnesses
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- HIV
How can high-risk people protect themselves?
- Avoid crowds and contact with sick people
- Continue taking your prescribed chronic medication
- Ensure that you obtain your chronic medication and refill script in time to minimise treatment interruptions
- Get you flu vaccine, as soon as it becomes available
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
- Contact your healthcare provider telephonically before visiting their rooms
- Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
- Maintain a healthy immune system by eating fruit, vegetables and other foods with high nutritional value
- Mask up when in public places to protect yourself
- Inform your Manager at work that you are considered a high risk individual so that extra care and precautions can be considered
- Be extra vigilant and follow the basic hygiene measures.
What is the international criteria that needs to be met for someone to be tested?
The current criteria is as follows:
The person has been in contact with a COVID-19 positive patient and the person is displaying symptoms of fever, tight chest and a sore throat, not attributable to any other disease.
OR
The person has acute severe respiratory infection, needs to be hospitalised and symptoms cannot be attributed to any other disease.
To see the appropriate testing guide for COVID-19, click here.
Testing at private laboratories
To ensure that the available capacity for testing is used in the most optimal way and that the patients who are at risk receive the clinical care that they need, only patients in the below categories are tested in South African private laboratories, on referral by a health care professional:
- Healthcare workers
- Hospital in-patients
- Pre-admission testing
- Symptomatic outpatients
- High risk patients with co-morbidities
No testing will be offered to the following patients:
- COVID positive patients requesting retest after completion of the prescribed period of self-isolation
- Asymptomatic out-patients and low risk contacts
- Self-referred patients
- Return to work screening for non-healthcare workers
- Workplace prevalence screening
Will CAMAF pay for tests and treatment?
The current practice is as follows: (this is subject to change as national developments occur)
CAMAF will pay for the tests from Scheme risk. Please note: Only SAHPRA accredited tests will be reimbursed.
Will the usual benefit option based exclusions apply for CAMAF members who contract COVID-19?
Your other exclusions still apply. If a member is diagnosed with COVID-19, it will be covered as a prescribed minimum benefit.
Will members on Network Options be able to be treated at alternative hospital providers should there be a shortage of hospital beds?
The most appropriate provider to deal with the matter will be reimbursed.
What Must I Do If I Have Mild Symptoms Of COVID-19?
80% of patients with COVID-19 will have no symptoms or have mild symptoms. Please consult your doctor if you need to be tested. Call your doctor first and arrange to be assessed, tested and treated out of hospital.
Depending on symptoms, your doctor will guide your treatment plan.
Isolation guidelines
As the pandemic evolves, new knowledge regarding the nature of COVID-19 infection and the rising vaccination rates and immunity to COVID-19 infection, the isolation guidelines have been adjusted as follows:
- If you test positive and show no symptoms, you do not have to isolate;
- If you test positive and show symptoms, you are now required to isolate for seven days, not 10;
- Close contacts of those who test positive are not required to isolate unless they develop symptoms.
What Must I Do If I Have Moderate To Severe Symptoms Of COVID-19?
Some patients with COVID-19 will experience moderate to severe symptoms, especially difficulty breathing. Patients in this category are likely to require hospital admission and are advised to call ahead to the Accident & Emergency Unit to arrange to be assessed.
Should Ivermectin be used for the management of COVID-19?
Ivermectin is not allowed to treat Covid-19 in South Africa. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) terminated the controlled Compassionate Use Access Programme, saying there is no credible evidence that Ivermectin helps treat COVID-19. Click here to read more.
Vaccination
Vaccines, considered one of the most important advances in modern medicine, have been responsible for greatly improving our quality of life over centuries, allowing us to reduce or eliminate many dangerous infectious diseases that we don’t even think about anymore. Read more about COVID-19 and vaccines here.
Who manages the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine strategy?
The Government is the sole purchaser of the COVID-19 vaccines at this point. It sources, distributes and oversees the rollout of the vaccine, both to the public and private sector. No medical aid or employer can procure the vaccine directly from the manufacturers.
What is South Africa’s vaccine strategy?
The vaccine rollout plan has changed from the original plan of vaccinating based on chronic conditions to an age-based plan. This approach has been successful in other countries and is supported by the fatality data. Currently, vaccination is open to everyone 12 years and above.
How do I register to get the vaccine?
The Government uses an electronic system, Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS), to keep track of everyone who gets the COVID-19 vaccine. The administration of the vaccine is done through this system, where the population both public and private will have to self-enrol to be on the database or registry of people to be vaccinated.
You can register:
- On the EVDS site
- COVID WhatsApp number by sending ‘Register’ to 0600 123 456; or
- SMS by dialling *134*832*ID number.
What happens after I have registered?
- A SMS confirming your registration will be sent from the EVDS.
- When you are next in line for vaccination, you will receive an SMS with details of your vaccination appointment – date and the place where you will be vaccinated. Please ensure that you arrive on time and produce your medical aid card and a valid form of identification.
- CAMAF members will have access to private facilities. Such facilities will bill CAMAF directly and the Scheme will pay such claims as a Prescribed Minimum Benefit.
- Find your nearest vaccination site here.
Will CAMAF pay for the vaccine?
The Council for Medical Schemes announced that schemes need to fund the vaccine as a prescribed minimum benefit. Therefore, all schemes will have to fund the vaccine for their beneficiaries in accordance with the national governmental rollout plan. Even before this announcement, in the earlier part of 2020, CAMAF had already made its plan to fund the vaccine from the reserves known. We have all the infrastructure and reserves in place to have the vaccines administered as they are made available.
Do I also have to register with CAMAF for vaccination?
No; to reduce the administration burden for our members, CAMAF does not require duplicate registration for vaccination. You only need to register on the EVDS when you are eligible for vaccination.
Some of the large medical scheme administrators have made their buildings available as mass vaccination sites, which are available to the general public. Can I, as a CAMAF member go to any of these sites for vaccination?
Yes, if you are allocated to it. Your claim will be submitted to CAMAF for payment and CAMAF will settle with the vaccination site.
Which vaccine is the best and can I choose the vaccine to take?
No, you will not be allowed to choose. All vaccines available from registered vaccination sites have been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and provide good protection particularly against severe disease and hospitalisation. The best decision is to take the vaccine which is most immediately available and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Why does the Pfizer vaccine require two doses while the Johnson & Johnson only requires one dose?
These two dosing strategies have been shown to be effective in their respective clinical trials. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been shown to elicit an immune response for many months after a single dose, while the strong immune response with Pfizer was seen after the second dose.
THE OMICRON VARIANT
If only vaccinated people may travel, are they not spreading the new Omicron variant globally?
Vaccinations do not stop you from contracting COVID-19 but they do protect from severe illness and death for most people. A vaccinated person can still carry and transfer the virus but is not expected to suffer from severe infections, which means their body’s immune system reacts quicker to the virus to eradicate it from their system. They are, therefore, contagious for a shorter period.
Are the current vaccines effective against Omicron?
It is not clear yet whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease than infections with other variants or whether Omicron has immune escape from current vaccines in use. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is working with technical partners to understand the potential impact on our existing countermeasures, including vaccines. However, it is believed that vaccines remain critical to reduce severe disease and death, including against the dominant circulating variant, as was demonstrated against the Delta variant. Therefore, current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death, and initial indications are that the vaccine efficacy is intact. Nevertheless, should the presence of Omicron or any other variant require changes to the current interventions and vaccines, current countermeasures will be updated, including vaccines when necessary.
Omicron symptoms are mild; why should I still be vaccinated?
It is still unclear what the symptoms and hospitalisation figures will be for this new variant. The other variants have not been eradicated and the third wave had a significant impact on the health system due to the Delta variant. Vaccination is still your best line of defence.
VACCINE BOOSTERS
Why must I get a booster dose?
The COVID-19 vaccine protects you against serious illness from the coronavirus. However, even highly effective vaccines may become less effective over time as some viruses change or mutate. An example is the flu vaccine that is changed annually based on the latest strain of flu.
COVID-19 vaccines are no exception. To build strong immunity or to increase your protection, a booster shot of the vaccine is needed.
When can I get my booster dose?
The dosing intervals are as follows:
People aged 50 and older can get an additional booster shot of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. This additional booster dose is available to all people of this age group who have completed at least 120 days or four months since they received their last Covid-19 vaccination of either the J&J or Pfizer. This is part of efforts by the government to increase vaccine uptake to achieve population immunity while protecting the most vulnerable groups, especially those with co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension.
Do I need to register for my booster dose?
No, there is no need to register for your booster shot and you do not have to wait for an SMS reminder, simply go to your nearest vaccination site if you are due for a booster dose.
SIDE EFFECTS
Like all other vaccines and medication, COVID-19 vaccines are not 100% effective and there is a small portion of the population who may have side effects. However, the proportion for which they are not effective, or who could develop serious side effects, is significantly less than the proportion of people who contract COVID-19 that become severely ill.
What side effects can I expect from the vaccine?
Most people will not experience any side effects. Some people may experience tenderness or a rash at the injection site. Occasionally, for a day or two and rarely longer, there may be some headache, feeling out of sorts, muscle pain or even a slight fever, which could be controlled with something like paracetamol.
However, if you are concerned about any adverse event you should report it to a health facility, where you will receive treatment for the adverse event and the event will be reported.
Recipients should be aware of the possible association and seek immediate care for signs and symptoms suggestive of thrombocytopenia or thrombotic complications:
- Unremitting, severe headache, occurring during this time frame
- Focal neurologic symptoms such as weakness in legs, blurred vision and new onset seizures
- New onset, persistent and unexplained abdominal pain,
- Chest pain, shortness of breath and/or leg pains.
All serious adverse events reported to the National Department of Health (NDoH) will be shared with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and will be presented at the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee (NISEC) for causality assessment.
How dangerous is an allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine?
Anaphylaxis is the most dangerous allergic reaction to any vaccine BUT it is very rare and can be managed successfully. It usually occurs within seconds or minutes after vaccination, which is why all people are required to undergo a 15-minute observation period after receiving the vaccine to ensure there is no serious allergic reaction.
In the case of people with allergies, who should NOT receive a particular COVID-19 vaccine?
If you fall into one of the following categories, then you should NOT get a particular COVID-19 vaccine:
- Anyone with a history of anaphylaxis or a severe hypersensitivity reaction to any component of the vaccine.
- Anyone who experience anaphylaxis after getting the first dose of a specific vaccine, should NOT get the second dose of that vaccine.
- Anyone who is allergic to polyethylene glycol should not get the Pfizer vaccine because it is one of the components of the vaccine.
Please always consult with your doctor.
THE BODY’S IMMUNE RESPONSE
Does being vaccinated mean that I can now dispense with COVID-19 precautions?
No; all COVID-19 precautionary measures must still be strictly adhered to, for several reasons. Firstly, the immune response elicited by the vaccines does not kick in immediately. Secondly, and very importantly, no vaccine is 100% effective. Therefore, even vaccinated people are still at risk of infection. And if a vaccinated person does become infected, we don’t know if the vaccine will prevent transmission of the virus to an uninfected person. We will only be able to return to our pre-COVID-19 life once herd immunity has been reached and the circulation of the virus has been controlled.
Why do some people still get COVID-19 within two weeks after being vaccinated?
It takes at least two weeks for the body to develop immunity after being vaccinated. A person is only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the J & J vaccine or two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. If you are infected during this time, you are less protected and may develop COVID-19. Also, if a person develops COVID-19 within a few days after being vaccinated, it means that the person had already been infected before receiving the vaccine and that they were in the incubation period at the time of vaccination.
If I have had COVID-19 previously, do I still need to be vaccinated?
Yes. Scientific evidence shows that the immune response after COVID-19 infection is much weaker and more short-lived than the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccines. This weaker, short-lived response is exactly why some people suffer more than one episode of COVID-19. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will provide you with a much stronger and more long-lasting immune response.
If I am a healthy person, why do I need to be vaccinated? Is it not better to contract COVID-19 and let my body build up its immunity?
From the severe cases of CAMAF members who have been admitted to the hospital, it is clear that the virus does not discriminate based on age or even a lack of underlying disease. We have had severe cases where people were in their twenties and thirties without co-morbidities and succumbed to COVID-19. It is not a gamble one should take.
The body’s immune response wanes quickly and will not necessarily protect you against a variety of strains.
If I have recovered from a bout of COVID-19, how long should I wait before being vaccinated?
The South African recommendation is at least four weeks.
If I have had the influenza vaccine, or any other vaccine, how long after should I wait before getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
A waiting period of a couple of days is recommended.
If I am not feeling totally well should I still keep my vaccination appointment or postpone it until I’m feeling absolutely fine?
If your symptoms are suggestive of COVID-19, you should be tested rather than go for vaccination. However, if your symptoms are mild and not suggestive of COVID-19 there should be no reason to postpone a vaccination appointment.
Should I do an antibody test after vaccination to confirm that I have immunity?
This is not recommended. Routine antibody tests are unreliable in establishing vaccine-mediated immunity (although they may have a role in determining whether someone has previously been infected). A negative antibody test after vaccination may not necessarily indicate a lack of immunity. In future, certain types of antibody tests might be used to indicate the need for repeat vaccination.
PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, IMMUNOCOMPROMISED AND PREGNANT WOMEN
Can people with chronic underlying medical conditions get the vaccine?
People with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are at a higher risk of severe outcomes when contracting COVID-19. The vaccines will help them to prevent severe illness or death from COVID-19. In addition to getting the COVID-19 vaccine, they should control their medical conditions by taking their prescribed chronic medication and going for regular medical check-ups. If you are unsure about your health condition, consult your medical practitioner.
Can I have the COVID-19 vaccine if I am planning to become pregnant?
Yes, and this is encouraged. We now know that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease and of preterm delivery, and for this reason it is good to be protected against COVID-19 before becoming pregnant.
Can I have the COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
COVID-19 vaccines using the Pfizer or the J&J vaccine can be offered to all pregnant women based on benefit risk. Pregnant women with co-morbidities such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension in pregnancy should be prioritized for vaccination and can be offered a vaccine if they have co-morbidity that is in a priority group for vaccination.
Health care workers are encouraged to discuss the risks and benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination with their patients. These discussions should include currently limited but reassuring safety data for the vaccines in pregnant and breastfeeding women, the strong immune response conferred to mothers following vaccination and the benefits of immune transfer to the neonate.
VACCINATION CERTIFICATE?
If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you will get your physical certificate from your vaccination site. You can also get your digital certificate here. All you need is your Identity number, your vaccination code (included on your physical card and the SMS verification you received after being vaccinated) and the cellphone number you used to register in the EVDS.
Some myths about COVID-19 vaccine
It is likely that you have heard claims about the COVID-19 vaccine on social media or from people in your life, which may increase your hesitancy about its safety or effectiveness. Below is our response to some of the circulating myths or burning questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Will the COVID-19 vaccine change my DNA?
There are different COVID-19 vaccines based on different manufacturing technologies.
One category of vaccine is based on a weakened adenovirus (a common virus that impacts the respiratory, gastrointestinal, eyes and in some cases urogenital systems) used to prime a person’s immune system to respond to another virus (e.g., AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson).
The second category is a nanoparticle vaccine that involves a delicate sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which means that it uses a laboratory-made version of the SARS-CoV-2 protein. This protein alone cannot make anyone sick. It initiates the body’s production of the protective antibodies (e.g., Novavax).
The third category uses pieces of human-made genetic material to mimic messenger RNA and instruct a person’s body to produce proteins that can fight a particular virus (e.g., Moderna, Pfizer). “Messenger RNA (mRNA) is found in all living cells. These strands of genetic code act as chemical intermediaries between the DNA in our chromosomes and the cellular machinery that produces the proteins we need to function: mRNA provides the instructions this machinery needs to assemble these proteins. However, mRNA isn’t the same as DNA, and it can’t combine with our DNA to change our genetic code.” – www.GAVI.org
The vaccine was developed so quickly. Can I trust it?
COVID-19 is a global public emergency. In such a pandemic it is necessary for the World Health Organization (WHO) to urgently assess the suitability and safety of novel health products for emergency use to halt the pandemic.
The Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure aims to make medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics available as rapidly as possible to address the emergency while adhering to stringent criteria of safety, efficacy, and quality. The assessment weighs the threat posed by the emergency and the benefit that would accrue from the use of the product against any potential risks. The EUL pathway involves a rigorous assessment of late Phase II and III clinical trial data and substantial additional data on safety, efficacy, quality and a risk management plan. The data is reviewed by independent experts and WHO teams who consider the current body of evidence regarding the vaccine under consideration, plans to monitor its use, and further studies. This process involves many countries and experts from individual national authorities are invited to participate in the EUL review.
The research did not start from scratch, as this is not the first coronavirus. SARS-CoV-2 is a virus in the coronavirus family, which has been studied for many ears. Through collaborative efforts, research was pooled, funding obtained, and trials fast-tracked as a result of the crisis caused by the pandemic.
Trials were run internationally and locally, which gives us insight into the vaccine’s behaviour in South Africa.
You can read more about the vaccinations and available trials here. The information is updated regularly and is downloadable in Excel.
What are the consequences of not taking the vaccine?
At least 60% of the population needs to be vaccinated within a given timeframe to achieve herd immunity and stop the spread of the virus. Should many people choose not to receive the vaccine, the virus and its impact will be a reality for us to contend with for a lot longer.
Transmission to others
Unvaccinated COVID-19 positive people can transmit the virus for an extended period. Therefore, the transfer rate increases in terms of the number of people one could infect when unvaccinated.
Are COVID-19 death stats not over-reported? All deaths seem to be labeled as COVID-19.
CAMAF cannot verify national statistics but can state that the Scheme statistics are aligned with national statistics produced in terms of an increase in deaths. We believe that the statistics may be under-reported as deaths post COVID-19 infections caused by complications from the disease, for e.g. a heart attack or embolism, are not reported as COVID-19 deaths.
Will I be able to access private hospitals in case of emergency (COVID or other)?
Although private hospitals become very busy when infections increase. However, CAMAF members have not experienced problems in accessing hospitals. We receive regular updates from hospitals in terms of their occupancy.
FAKE NEWS AND MISINFORMATION CAN BE A BIG THREAT TO COVID-19 VACCINATION EFFORTS. Living in a digital world means that we have access to the latest information on just about any subject. While this can be powerful and empowering, it can also be harmful.
It is therefore very important that you get all your COVID-19 information from credible sources.
Preventative measures
Like any other infectious diseases, COVID-19 can spread through coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands, touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. While the coronavirus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets, airborne transmission is also possible, particularly in indoor locations where there are crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces. WHO defines airborne transmission as the spread of an infectious agent caused by the dissemination of droplet nuclei (aerosols) that remain infectious when suspended in air over long distances and time.
While vaccines are widely regarded as the most powerful weapon in our COVID-19 armoury, without the other essential mitigation measures, our fight against the spread of COVID-19 may fail. It is only by combination prevention – vaccines plus other proven public health measures – that we can create the best chance of protecting ourselves and our families.
To protect yourself against any potential infection, we encourage our members to keep germs at bay by following good personal hygiene habits at all times.
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Why? Washing your hands properly is the most important and effective way of killing viruses. Most infections are contracted when our germ infested hands come in contact with our mouths or through contact with other individuals whose hands may come in contact with us.
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain and spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Getting early treatment will protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections. You must also stay home to rest and give yourself the best chance of recovery if you feel unwell.
Why? By coming to work when you are sick, you increase the risk of spreading illness to those around you.
Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
Stay informed on the latest developments about any virus outbreaks. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your department of health or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from the viruses.
Why? Healthcare providers are best placed to advise on what you should do to protect yourself.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least one metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? Droplets may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Wearing of Masks
While the government has removed all the Covid-19 regulations, including the wearing of masks, it is however important that we consider the people who are most vulnerable among us and to think through your risks. If you have a weakened immune system, have a high-risk medical condition or if you are unable to vaccinate, we recommend that you continue wearing a mask.
Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces
Why? Indoor gatherings with poor ventilation pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. If forced to gather indoors, always open windows and doors to ensure proper ventilation. Adequate ventilation reduces how much virus is in the air.
Useful links and contacts
Call the COVID-19 public helpline on 0800 029 999
Send the word ‘HI’ to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp
For reliable and up-to-date information about COVID-19, visit these websites:
The World Health Organisation:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases:
http://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/covid-19/
COVID-19 public helpline on 0800 029 999
Prevent social stigma around COVID-19:
https://www.epi-win.com/sites/epiwin/files/content/attachments/2020-02-24/COVID19%20Stigma%20Guide%2024022020_1.pdf
When and how to use masks:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
WHO FAQ on COVID-19:
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
OTHER:
World Health Organization. Novel Coronavirus
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Novel Coronavirus 2019 (nCoV-2019)
National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Update on novel coronavirus 2019
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/14-12-2017-up-to-650-000-people-die-of-respiratory-diseases-linked-to-seasonal-flu-each-year
Employer Toolkit
Member Toolkit
- General information regarding COVID-19
- Prevention
- South African Government information
- Support
- Member Communications
Media release statement: Termination of the Ivermectin Controlled Compassionate Use Access Programme (30 May 2022) 5 downloads 149.26 KB
Experience of COVID-19 across Netcare facilities since discovery of Omicron variant in South Africa 14 downloads 566.26 KB
CAMAF member mailer (March 2021): COVID-19 and the danger of extra kilos 16 downloads 288.71 KB
Family Toolkit
Media release statement: Termination of the Ivermectin Controlled Compassionate Use Access Programme (30 May 2022) 5 downloads 149.26 KB
Experience of COVID-19 across Netcare facilities since discovery of Omicron variant in South Africa 14 downloads 566.26 KB
Multiply Updates and Info
Your health and wellness will always be our top priority. CAMAF’s official Wellness Partner is Multiply – a wellness and rewards programme that helps you make the right choices so that you can live a better, healthier life. To keep track of all Multiply and lockdown-related info, click here.
Downloads
- CAMAF 7 Step Prevention Coronavirus Social Posts
- CAMAF Coronavirus Explainer Social Posts
- Coronavirus myths and facts
- Homeschooling tips
- Managing COVID19 stress
- Online meetings
- Prevention
- General information regarding COVID-19
- South African Government information
- Support
Experience of COVID-19 across Netcare facilities since discovery of Omicron variant in South Africa 14 downloads 566.26 KB
Guidelines on management of anaesthesia and surgery for elective procedures 35 downloads 175.51 KB
Experience of COVID-19 across Netcare facilities since discovery of Omicron variant in South Africa 14 downloads 566.26 KB
Statements By President
COVID-19 public helpline 0800 029 999
Send the word ‘HI’ to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp
Simple precautions can make a big difference and everyone has a role to play.
Do your part to stop the spread of diseases