South Africa confirms second case of coronavirus

A South African woman has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus barely three days after the first case was recorded, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize confirmed on Saturday.

The country recorded its first case on Thursday after a 38-year-old man from `Hilton tested positive for the virus.

In a statement, the minister said a Gauteng woman who had recently returned to the country from Italy had tested positive for the virus.

She had been part of a group of 10 who returned from Italy on Sunday.

“The public must be notified that we have information and know the whereabouts of all the other 10 people who were part of the group that had travelled to Italy. All those who came back to South Africa, are currently being tested.

“We are now awaiting their test results to come out. Since being traced, they have remained in isolation to avoid any further contact with third parties,” said Mkhize.

On Friday, Nedbank confirmed they had placed several staff members in self-quarantine after they came in contact with a staff member who had been in contact with the 38-year-old man from Hilton who was South Africa’s first confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus.

The staff members have been tested and were expecting results soon.

“The second patient who has now tested positive for COV-19 will now be immediately admitted to a public health facility in Gauteng that government has identified as one of the hospitals that are ready to receive COVID-19 positive patients,” said Mkhize.

The minister committed to keeping the public fully informed about all developments. He said another South African had tested positive for the deadly virus in South Korea.

“We also wish to notify the public that our embassy has advised us that a 39 year old male South African who works in Daegu, South Korea has also tested positive for COVID-19.

“He was due to return to South Africa and has since remained in South Korea. We are now following up with the South Korean authorities firstly to obtain formal confirmation of this case and also the details of where our citizen is being treated,” Mkhize added.

IOL