SA president announces start of mass testing

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a mass screening programme for coronavirus.

The president on Monday evening said 10,000 field workers will be visiting homes to screen people - and those found with symptoms will be quarantined either in their homes or in hospitals.

Mr Ramaphosa said the programme in a “new phase” in the fight against the spread of the virus.

The government is also developing technology that will help in tracking down all people who may have contacted people infected with the virus.

South Africa has 1,326 cases of Covid-19 - the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus, and is the epicentre of the pandemic in Africa.

The country has reported three deaths as a result of the disease.

South Africans are currently on day five of a 21-day nationwide lockdown that was imposed last week to prevent the spread of the virus.