The first case of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Africa was confirmed by Dr Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health today, (Thursday, 5 March). In a statement issued by Dr Mkhize, he said that a suspected case of the disease has tested positive by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.
The patient is a 38-year-old male who travelled to Italy with his wife. ” They were part of a group of 10 people and they arrived back in South Africa on 1 March. The patient consulted a private general practitioner on 3 March, with symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, a sore throat and a cough. The practice nurse took swabs and delivered it to the lab, ” said Dr Mkhize.
The patient has been self-isolating since 3 March. The couple also has two children. The Emergency Operating Centre (EOC) has identified the contacts by interviewing the patient and doctor. The tracer team has been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from NICD. The doctor has been self-isolated as well.
“This media briefing is to ensure that the public is immediately kept abreast. A press briefing will be held later after the parliamentary debate this evening to shed more light on this issue,” said Dr Mkhize.
This is a developing story and updates will follow as events unfold.
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